Ashfaq Majeed Wani

Biography

Ashfaq Majeed Wani also known as Frena, was born on 5 September 1966 in the Sarai Balla area of Srinagar in the valley of Kashmir. He studied in the valley's prestigious school Tyndale Biscoe and later went to SP College and then to University of Kashmir. He was a good athlete in his early teens, and sports were important part in Wani’s life. He maintained a strict regimen; getting up early in the morning, he would go for training and exercises. He was a dedicated soccer player, a marathon runner, and a table tennis player. He stood first in the interstate marathon tournament in 1985 and was selected to represent the state. He is regarded the brain behind Kashmiri Insurgency which started in 90s. Coming from very influential family of Sarai Balla, his cadre is regarded by many above Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq & once his best friend Yasin Malik. He was only person in among Kashmir militants who met all military advisors, civil leaders, Prime Minister and President of Pakistan .He bashed Syed Ali Shah Geelani in the peak of militancy in 90s when Syed Ali Shah Geelani asked him to join in political struggle instead of militancy.

Ashfaq Majeed Wani wanted to be a doctor but became interested in politics in his late teens. At the age of 14, Wani "refused" to accompany his family members in the funeral procession of Sheikh Abdullah, an early sign of what was to form a part of his ideology. Two years later he began organizing anti establishment and anti-India rallies. By 1987, he was already on the radar of Indian intelligence agencies. He was arrested on March 23, 1987 for his involvement with the Muslim United Front, which took part in elections, subsequently "rigged by the establishment" and was lodged at the Central jail, Srinagar. Hundreds of other opposition activists were also arrested in police crackdowns across Indian Controlled Kashmir. He was released after nine months on parole to attend his uncle’s wedding. His period in prison had made him bitter and he was found to have cigarette burns all over his body. After his release, Wani worked on the plans towards the procurement of arms from Pakistan-administrated Kashmir. A day before he left for Pakistan-administrated Kashmir, while serving meals at the wedding reception, he overheard Mohiuddin Shah, a veteran National Conference politician talking about the "futility of agitations against the government". Wani is known to have "reprimanded" him in these words "the government made two grave mistakes as far as Kashmir is concerned. First they acceded to India and secondly, they let me on parole."

Wani subsequently crossed into Pakistan-Administrated Kashmir to obtain arm training under the supervision of the Pakistan Army . Many Kashmiris in the valley joined JKLF and obtained training and financial support in Pakistan and in Pakistan-administrated Kashmir. Most returned to Kashmir and majority of them were killed by the Indian Army and Indian Paramilitary Forces.

Death

Ashfaq Majeed Wani was killed at the age of 23 in an encounter with the Indian paramilitary troops and a unit of army in the Hawal area of old city, Srinagar on 30 March 1990. Ashfaq received about 50 Namaz-e-Jinaza. As soon as he died others separatists started their own organisations who had ideological differences with other leaders of JKLF. He is buried at martyrs graveyard in Srinagar's Downtown Idgah. Fateh Khawani is organised on 30 March every year at Sarai Balla, Amira Kadal at his ancestral home by JKLF. He has a brother and a sister married to Chowdharys who are his cousins also. His father is regarded as father figure by JKLF and hizbul mujahiddeen ideologues. His father Er. Abdul Majeed Wani is suffering from PTSD.