A first: ‘Correctional home’ for stone-pelters in Valley

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The idea is to take them away from antinational activities once they leave the jail.

SK MISHRA, director general of police (prisons)

SRINAGAR:In a first, authorities in Kashmir have converted a jail into a ‘correctional home’ for youth involved in stone-pelting. Officials say this is to dissuade the youth from “anti-national” activities and train them in vocational courses.

The purpose behind the move is to segregate the impressionable minds from hardened criminals and militants that are housed in jails, officials say.

The correctional home or special jail has been established in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district which is considered to be the epicentre for Valley’s new-age militancy and stone-pelting incidents.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, director general (prisons), SK Mishra, said the ‘correctional home’ was started this month and in the first phase 17 youngsters from different jails in the state have already been brought into the facility.

The special home has a capacity to accommodate 200 persons.

“These are all young stone-pelters, mostly booked under the public safety act,” Mishra said. Under the said act police is empowered to imprison a person from six months to two years without a trial.

Mishra said the focus is on educational and vocational needs of the youth. “We have hired teachers for those who haven’t attended schools, and for those who are educated are being given computer education,” he said.

Besides teaching, the correctional homes have facilities for indoor and outdoor games. “We are trying to give them vocational training in plumbing, electrician and other trades. The idea is to take them away from anti national activities once they leave the jail,” Mishra said.

During his recent visit, Union home minister Rajnath Singh had said that he has asked security forces to treat youth, aged less than 18 years, who are involved with any criminal activities (militancy), as juveniles.