Court shifts Yasin to hospital

Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik, who is on a hunger strike, has been admitted to the Government Medical College following court orders. Chief Ju...

Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik, who is on a hunger strike, has been admitted to the Government Medical College following court orders.

Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Jammu Suresh Sharma, who had extended his police remand yesterday for five more days, directed the crime branch of Jammu and Kashmir police to shift Malik as his physical condition was poor.

Efforts are on to persuade the Hurriyat leader to break his hunger strike, which began on March 26. A close aide of Malik said: ‘‘I guess we can convince him to do so late tonight.’’

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Extending the remand for ‘‘limited purpose’’ for five days, the CJM had pointed out that doctors in police hospital, where Malik is admitted, have advised for shifting him to GMC Hospital for better treatment.

Earlier, the state high court had directed the government to get Malik examined by a board of doctors afresh. In his three-page interim order which came on a petition filed by a Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone, Justice T.S. Doabia said that the medical board, which had earlier examined Malik on March 25, will examine him afresh and place both its reports before the court.

Doabia had also directed the state to pass appropriate orders in the plea made by Lone and Malik’s sister for permission to meet the detainee. Lone alleged that Malik was subjected to inhuman treatment when he refused to sign a ‘‘confession’’ statement and that he was losing consciousness at regular intervals.

He added that ill-treatment meted out to him was part of a conspiracy on the part of the Chief Minister to eliminate the JKLF chief. Malik was arrested under POTO after two persons were arrested with $1 lakh at Kud in Udhampur district, which they were reportedly carrying for him.