Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik was today (Mar 26, 2004) detained by police along with his deputy Javid Ahmad Mir in Baramulla district of North Kashmir, official sources said.

Malik, accompanied by several party activists, was heading towards Bandipora reportedly to address a Friday congregation in connection with his party's signature campaign, when a police party stopped him at Safapora in Baramulla district around 11.00 hrs (IST) today, they said.

Malik was asked to return back to Srinagar, but he was allegedly adamant to visit Bandipora.

Apprehending trouble, police took Malik and Mir into preventive custody as a precautionary measure, the sources said.

JKLF has launched a State-wide signature campaign last year to seek people's opinion for their role in the Indo-Pak talks aimed at resolution of Kashmir issue.

Condemning the police action, chief spokesman of JKLF Tahi Ahmad Mir alleged Malik was detained along with dozens of his colleagues by police without any justification.