JKLF chief to fast unto death from Monday

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and several All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leaders will go on a fast-unto-death from Monday in New Delhi.

Addressing media persons in Srinagar on Thursday, APHC chairman Moulvi Umar Farooq said, ''The fast will end only when we get an assurance that the atrocities of security forces on innocents will stop.''

The APHC also announced a phased programme starting Monday in this regard. The party will observe May 12 as a ''black day'', when it begins a two-day strike, the Moulvi added.

APHC spokesman Abdul Gani alleged that the Farooq Abdullah government has unleashed a fresh reign of terror in the valley. He said 1897 civilians were killed in Kashmir after the National Conference government assumed office in the state. ''Of them, 143 were killed in custody. As many as 141 houses were blasted,'' the APHC chief said. Meanwhile, 25 militants belonging to different outlawed and underground outfits surrendered in Srinagar before the Army while the police on Saturday arrested senior Kashmiri leader Shabir Ahmad Shah and 13 others in Kashmir valley, according to UNI.

A defence ministry spokesman said 24 militants belonging to different banned outfits surrendered along with their arms and ammunition before the Army at Watergam in North Kashmir district of Baramulla.

Police fired in the air and burst teargas shells to disperse slogan-shouting processionists led by Shabir Shah at the historic Lal Chowk.

Shabir Shah and 13 others were later put into police vehicles and taken to a police station at Kothibagh for violating prohibitory orders. They were protesting against the alleged human rights violation in the valley by security forces.