Malik plans fast in Delhi demanding return of Guru`s remains

Srinagar: JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik on Tuesday announced a 48-hour long hunger strike next month in Delhi to press for the return of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru`s mortal remains. "I will hold a 48-hour long hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on May 3 to demand the return of Guru`s mortal remains and quashing of life imprisonment sentences given to Kashmiri prisoners," Malik told reporters here.

Malik, who was released from a month-long house arrest yesterday, said the purpose behind holding the hunger strike in Delhi was to highlight the plight of prisoners languishing in different jails across the country. "We want to call upon the international community and civil society of India to come forward and raise their voice against sufferings of the people of Kashmir," he said. "The whole population of Kashmir was caged by strict curfew after Guru`s execution on February 9 and even peaceful protesters were showered with bullets, but the international community and the Indian civil society remained mute spectators," Malik said. He called upon the people to follow the programme of Majlis Mashwarat for the return of the mortal remains of Guru and also JKLF founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat who was hanged and buried in Tihar jail on February 10, 1984. He will lead a peaceful protest on Friday in Lal Chowk as part of the Majlis programme, Malik added. PTI