MUZAFFARABAD: Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik has decided to undergo an indefinite hunger strike from July 22 in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail.

This was stated in a press release issued by his special representative and JKLF chief spokesperson Rafiq Dar following a meeting of the organisation’s supreme council on Monday.

Mr Malik has been lodged by the Indian government in solitary confinement since May 2019, following denial of a fair trial and his physical presence in the court in connection with some fake cases.

According to the spokesperson, Mr Malik had actually decided to start the hunger strike from July 12 - a day before the last virtual court hearing – but had deferred it until July 22 on the request of Tihar jail authorities who wanted to get some time to take up his demands with their higher authorities and the government.

On July 13, during his online appearance from Tihar jail in Airforce case Mr Malik had informed the judge that he had written to Indian government that “if his just and legal demands for a fair trial and personal appearance in court to help him defend himself by cross-examining the witnesseswere not accepted he would be left with no option but to go for an indefinite hunger strike in the prison from July 22.”

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2022