Srinagar, May 07: International Forum for Justice Human Rights JK on Friday paid glowing tributes to Tehreek-e-Hurriyat chairman Muhammad Ashraf Khan Sehrai who passed away in Government hospital under custody on Wednesday.
In a statement, Chairman of IFJHRJK Muhammad Ahsan Untoo lashed out at authorities and said that the late leader, despite being ill and elderly was arrested last year under the Public Safety Act and during his jail period no treatment was provided to him and his condition deteriorated.
“This is a deliberate custodial murder of Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai a prominent leader,” he said.
Untoo said that Sehrai according to his family sources was literally thrown in Jammu hospital, unattended. He said that this is criminal and the Human Rights organizations should take note of it.
He said that Sehrai had complained of ill health to the jail authorities several times over the past nine months but was not listened to.
He had bilateral pneumonia which is developed over a period of ten to twelve days. It means he had developed pneumonia in jail.
Untoo said that if Sehrai was provided medical care on time he would have survived.
Untoo urged the International Human Rights Organizations to take notice of the “custodial murder of a top Kashmiri leader” and pressurize India to bring to book all those who were involved in Sehrai’s ‘custodial murder’.
Untoo said that besides the authorities did not allow the people to assemble at his native village who wished to participate in his funeral prayers. He said although Sehrai tested negative for coronavirus, the authorities faked his report and termed him positive to scare the people. However despite that thousands were willing to participate in the funeral prayers.
Untoo said that Sehrai’s native village was flooded with additional forces to thwart any attempts of protests. Hundreds of police and paramilitary forces personnel were deployed in Lolab area to stop people from assembling at Sehrai sahib’s native village.
Untoo said this is another crime of the lawless state.
First they murdered Sehrai sahib and then denied him a proper burial.
He urged Indian authorities to release all Kashmiri detainees and in his appeal to UNO, OIC, Amnesty International and organizations of human rights to visit all jails and take cognizance of the pathetic condition of detainees.
He said that authorities have unleashed a reign of terror in jails and Kashmiri political prisoners have been detained without a trail.
