Srinagar, December 5
The JKLF chairman, Mohammad Yaseen Malik, has decided to observe a two-day fast that will conclude on December 10 on the occasion of World Human Rights Day, in protest against the alleged human rights violations by the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

Protest marches would also be organised while a memorandum on human rights is being submitted to the UNMOGIP here on the occasion, he said. He appealed to the rights bodies in the country to work for an end to rights abuses in the state.

At a press conference here today, Malik also contested the claims of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, on the state of human rights in the state, saying that 44 custodial killings had taken place during the past one year.

Azad had stated here in October that there was no incident of custodial killing reported so far this year and that the custodial disappearances had declined by 95 per cent.

“During the last 19 years, no government has accepted any custodial killings,” Malik said in reply to questions.

He referred to different cases, including that of a carpenter, Abdul Rahman Padroo of Kokernag area, whose case had surfaced among five cases of fake encounters in the Ganderbal area, near here, last year.

Giving details Malik held that 677 killings, including 44 custodial deaths and 70 incidents of molestation or rapes of women, at the hands of security forces had taken place between December last year and November this year.

Malik said the human rights violations continued in spite of the assurances of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on zero tolerance.

Jammu, December 5
Describing late Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah as a man of secular ethos, senior vice-president of the National Conference and former sports minister Harbans Singh today urged state politicians to rise above party affiliations and work for the welfare of the common people in the strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir.

Paying homage to the late leader on his 102nd birth anniversary at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan here today, Singh also urged the people to follow his path of secularism and communal harmony.

“When corruption has spread its tentacles every where, I urge present-day politicians to emulate him and work in the larger interest of people of this militancy-hit state,” he added.

Former sports minister also recalled the days when late Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah took over as Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir during turbulent days of Partition.

“Communal riots had engulfed the whole country but he stood like a rock for secularism,” he said, adding “when the entire country was bleeding Jammu and Kashmir remained calm.”

Another former minister and senior leader of the party Surjeet Singh Salathia while paying tributes to late Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah said, “He was the only one who implemented agrarian reforms in the state to give rights to tillers, which till date has not been implemented in any other part of the country.”

Earlier, in the morning party leaders took out rallies in the winter capital and distributed fruits and snacks among destitute people and orphans at Mother Teresa Charitable Trust.

Similar functions to mark the occasion also poured in from Kishtwar, Ramban, Doda, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch districts.