Detained separatist leader Ashraf Sehrai dies in Jammu hospital

Jammu, May 5

Separatist leader Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, who was arrested under the Public Safety Act in July last year, died at a hospital here on Wednesday, officials said.

Sehrai, 77, a close confidant of hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, was shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital from the district jail in Udhampur after his health deteriorated on Tuesday evening, the officials said.

Sehrai, who replaced Geelani as chairperson of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, had tested negative for Covid in a rapid antigen test. His RTPCR report is still awaited, they said. 

He had Covid symptoms and his oxygen levels had fallen, the officials added. PTI