Srinagar: Thirty two-year-old Junaid Sehrai had closely followed and was inspired by the politics of his father Mohammed Ashraf Khan ‘Sehrai’ till he finally joined the militant ranks in 2018.
Holding a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Kashmir, Junaid worked with two multinational companies before returning to Kashmir where he actively participated in protests and demonstrations.
He joined the militant ranks in 2017-2018, at a time when many educated youths were doing so. Junaid is the first son of any separatist leader to have joined the militant ranks.
Junaid is believed to have struck a good rapport with PhD scholar Manan Wani for a few months before he was killed in October 2018.
At the age of 22, Junaid, the youngest among six brothers and sisters, was first named in an FIR when he was caught during 2010 agitation triggered by the killing of teenager Tufail Mattoo.
Weeks after Sehrai took over the reigns of Tehrek-e-Hurriayt, Junaid disappeared on March 23, 2018 and never returned. His father submitted an application at Saddar Police Station on the next day informing about his son’s disappearance.
A few weeks later Junaid’s picture appeared on social media. He was brandishing an AK-47 and the post also mentioned a code name — ‘Ammar Bhai’.
Sehrai had turned down a suggestion of the then Director General of Police S P Vaid for making an appeal to his son to shun path of militancy and return home.
Sehrai on Tuesday led funeral prayers in absentia for his son after police refused to give body to the family and instead carried it to Sonmarg for quite burial.
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