JKLF chief Yasin Malik to go on hunger strike

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik will stage a 48-hour hunger strike here, beginning Friday, to demand that the mortal remains of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru be handed over to his family in Kashmir.

Afzal Guru was hanged in Tihar Jail and buried there Feb 9.

The hunger strike is also aimed to press for the handing over of the remains of JKLF founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, who is also buried in Tihar Jail following his hanging in 1984.

"We are holding a hunger strike from May 3 (at Jantar Mantar) to demand the return of shaheed (martyr) Afzal Guru and shaheed Maqbool Bhat's mortal remains," Yasin Malik told IANS.

Earlier, a statement by the separatist group said: "The proposed hunger strike by Malik in Delhi is also aimed at highlighting the plight of thousands who are languishing in various jails, especially those serving lifers and those who remain in jails despite release orders from courts and also the plight of minors and youth."

Malik was released April 15 from a 35-day house detention.

JKLF, which declared a unilateral ceasefire in 1994, says its political struggle is for complete independence of Jammu and Kashmir from both India and Pakistan.