A KASHMIRI CHILD HOLDS PLACARD IN SRINAGAR, 2000-05-24 (photo)

A Kashmiri child displays placards during a protest hunger strike by All Parties Hurriet (Freedom) Conference (APHC) in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir on May 24. On Wednesday in Srinagar, more than a hundred activists led by APHC executive member Yasin Malik, staged a 36-hour long hunger strike to protest against alleged custodial killings of Kashmiris by Indian security forces. According to APHC more than 77 people were killed by security forces in custody after their arrest since January this year. But authorities deny the allegations and say they will investigate such allegations and punish those found guilty. APHC is an umberalla organisation of nearly two dozen religious, social and separatist groups fighting for the "right of self-determination" for the people of Jammu and Kashmir state. FK/CC