Malik's former colleague throws weight behind Mir

Srinagar, Nov 6 (UNI) A once top militant commander of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, recently released from jail after 16 years, today trained his guns on former colleague and outfit chairman Yasin Malik.

Addressing a news conference here, he said the faction of the pro-independence outfit headed by Javed Mir was the ''real JKLF'' and not the one headed by Malik.

''The JKLF was united when Malik became its chairman in 1994-95.

The JKLF had undemocratic structure that time. He (Malik) also kept all-important posts with him only,'' Dar added.

He threw his weight behind Mir, saying members of the erstwhile JKLF represented the faction headed by him.

On October 23, a TADA court in Jammu granted bail to Dar, who faces 19 militancy-related cases, after remaining behind bars at the Kot Balwal jail for 16 years. He was arrested by the BSF here on June 22, 1990.

Dar was a top commander of the JKLF when the outfit was underground. The JKLF, which spearheaded the ''movement'' for an independent Jammu and Kashmir, declared a unilateral ceasefire in 1994 and decided to launch a non-violent movement.

Dar was allegedly instrumental in the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley. He was handed over to his family members before the Id-ul-Fitr on October 25 and later joined the faction led by Mir.

UNI AG SAM HT1438