Yasin Malik, leader of outlawed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), who is now serving a life sentence for crimes including sponsoring terrorism, has started a hunger strike inside the Tihar jail, according to prison officials on Saturday.
As of July 22, Malik, who is housed in prisoner number 7 of the Tihar jail, has been on a hunger strike. He claims that his case is not being adequately examined.
Malik, who was detained immediately after JKLF was outlawed in 2019, was found guilty by an NIA court on May 19 in offences involving the funding of terrorism and given a life sentence on May 25. In addition to giving Malik a life sentence, NIA court fined him Rs. 10 lakh.
He declared to the court that he did not dispute accusations made against him.
In relation to her captivity by JKLF terrorists on December 8, 1989, Rubaiya Sayeed, sister of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti and the granddaughter of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, identified Malik on July 15 of this year.
Earlier on December 8, 1989, Rubaiya was kidnapped in Srinagar. She was released from captivity on December 13, five days later, when the then-V P Singh administration at the Center exchanged the release of five terrorists.
Malik is one of several people implicated in this case.
The case will be heard in Jammu on August 23. The 56-year-old separatist leader has asked to physically present.
In addition to Rubaiya Sayeed kidnapping case, Malik is also accused of killing four Indian Air Force (IAF) officers in Srinagar in January 1990.
Malik has filed a request for personal presence in this matter with the national government.
