JKLF begins 'journey to freedom' in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), headed by Yasin Malik, today began its ''safar-e-azadi (journey to independence)'' from Daksum in Anantnag district.

Hundreds of JKLF supporters had reached Daksum to march toward Kokernag in south Kashmir's Anantnag district this morning.

JKLF chairman Malik is leading the march in a specially designed vehicle, which would travel, across the Kashmir valley. He will address a public meeting at Kokernag later in the day.

The journey is part of the JKLF's three-month-long campaign named as ''Peace in South Kashmir: Kashmir First and Kashmiri First''.

Through the campaign, the JKLF would make serious efforts to seek the inclusion of the people of the state in the ongoing dialogue process between India and Pakistan aimed at bringing peace and reconciliation in the strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir.

The JKLF had earlier postponed the ''journey to freedom'' after Malik and other senior leaders were arrested by the police in Kokernag on May 5, a day ahead of the scheduled launch of the 'safar-e-azadi' from south Kashmir.

Malik had later threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike from May 26 if the Jammu and Kashmir government once again stopped him from undertaking the campaign on wheels from May 20.

A JKLF leader said the pro-independence group had already written to the Deputy Commissioner concerned for permission and expressed the hope that there would be no hurdles in the campaign this time.

UNI