Yasin Malik, 6 associates held on way to Baramulla

Malik and six of his close associates were detained while they were going to Baramulla district to carry out a poll boycott campaign.

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yasin Malik and six of his close associates were on Friday detained while they were going to Baramulla district to carry out a poll boycott campaign, officials said.

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Malik and his associates Sheikh Abdul Rashid, Mohammad Yasin Bhat, Javid Ahmed Zarger and Fayaz Ahmad Sheikh were taken into preventive custody by police at Mirgund when they were on way to Kreeri area of the district, they said.

By-elections are to be held in the assembly constituencies of Pattan, Sangrama and Rafiabad of Baramulla district and Bhaderwah in Jammu division on April 24.

The JKLF chief who returned from a tour of Pakistan kicked off the anti-poll campaign at Bharampora in Rafiabad constituency on Thursday.

Malik on Wednesday said he would visit every village in the three constituencies to "inform people that elections are no solution to the Kashmir issue.