SRINAGAR; 24, May 2013: The Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Muhammad Yasin Malik starts 48-hour long hunger strike on Friday to protest against the life imprisonment awarded to Kashmir youth and to seek the mortal remains of Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Bhat and Shaheed Mohammad Afzal Guroo back to Valley. The strike is also observed with an aim to stress upon the government to provide information about missing persons, probe into unmarked graves and stop random arrests of youth.

Hundreds of people gathered around Mohammad Yasin Malik at JKLF central office, Maqbool Manzil, Maisuma. The family members of martyrs and detainees, and people from various walks of life participated in the hunger strike.

Malik has observed fast several times earlier as well. Notably in 2008, he went on hunger strike against the economic embargo imposed on Kashmir by the right wing groups. He has also gone on strike when he was in prison in 1990 and 1992 respectively.

Those who are attending the strike including JKLF workers, families of victims, APDP activists, students, representatives of Sikh and Pandit communities, members of High Court Bar Association and political workers.

Renowned Journalist and Kashmir Times Editor-in-Chief Ved Basin, Dr Javid Iqbal, senior Hurriyat leader Javid Ahmed Mir addressed the participants on this occasion.