By IANS,
Srinagar : Pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik broke his five-day fast here Sunday afternoon following an assurances from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) that the Jammu-Srinagar highway would be secured for a smooth flow of trucks carrying supplies to the valley.
Malik went on a fast for an indefinite period Tuesday against the alleged ‘economic blockade’ of the valley by protesters in Jammu and harassment of minority community members in parts of that region.
Kashmir divisional commissioner Masood Samoon visited the Soura Medical Institute to deliver the PMO’s letter to Malik.
The PMO has assured the JKLF chairman that the Pathankote-Srinagar stretch of the highway would be provided full security so that trucks carrying fruits – the Kashmir valley’s main produce – to various parts of country and bringing in supplies can move freely.
The PMO has also assured Malik that the minority Muslim community members would be provided security in Jammu region.
A woman, whose 22-year-old son Asif was killed when a teargas shell hit him in the chest in Maisuma locality in uptown Srinagar last week, offered a glass of fruit juice to Malik to break his fast in the hospital.
Malik was admitted in the hospital Thursday morning after his health deteriorated.
Jammu has been witnessing protests for more than five weeks, with agitators demanding the revocation of a state government order cancelling its earlier move to transfer 40 hectares of land to the Amarnath shrine management for pilgrim facilites.