SRINAGAR: A spontaneous shutdown was observed in Maisuma area of Srinagar on Monday over the health condition of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik.
Reports and witnesses said that all shops and other business establishments were closed in Maisuma after reports of Malik’s “bad health” reached there.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested JKLF chief Malik on April 10 after a special NIA court in Jammu gave the go ahead for his custodial interrogation by the probe agency.
Malik, who was shifted to Tihar jail under police protection, was taken into preventive custody in February by the Jammu and Kashmir police and shifted to Jammu’s Kot Balwal jail.
The JKLF chief, according to his family, was shifted to a hospital in Delhi after he got “seriously ill” following his hunger strike to protest his alleged illegal detention
Pakistan has also condemned the detention of Malik.
“Pakistan strongly condemns the continuing incarceration and deteriorating health of Yasin Malik since February 22 on trumped up charges,” Pakistan’s foreign office said in a press release.
“We expect the Government of India to ensure the wellbeing of Malik, including provision of adequate health care,” it said.