Kashmiri separatists on Monday called for a shutdown a day later against the “ill-treatment meted out to the ailing” incarcerated Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Force (JKLF) chief, Yasin Malik, while former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti demanded his immediate release for proper medical treatment.

In a statement, separatists Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and the JKLF called for protests across the Valley saying Malik’s health was deteriorating under custody in New Delhi.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Malik on April 9 in connection with a case related to alleged terror funding in Kashmir. The Centre also banned JKLF last month.

“NIA’s high-handedness has… forced senior resistance leader Muhammad Yasin Malik to go on hunger strike and today his hunger strike has entered the 12th day. The life of ailing Yasin Malik, who is admitted to the RML Hospital in Delhi, is in danger and rulers and their agencies are busy playing with his life,” the statement said.

Mufti said Malik needed proper medical treatment as his “life is in danger”. She referred to Bharatiya Janata Party’s Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal, Pragya Thakur, and said she has been out on bail and is fighting the national elections while Malik is very ill and his life “is in danger” behind bars. “My appeal to the government is that he [Malik] should be immediately released so that he gets treatment. God forbid, if something bad happens to him, the outcome would be catastrophic,” she said.

An NIA official said Malik is absolutely fine. “He was admitted to a hospital last week and after the discharge, he has been shifted to [Delhi]’s Tihar jail.”

First Published: Apr 23, 2019 00:12 IST