Stone-pelting cases against 634 withdrawn by J&K govt
Govt panel forwards its recommendations to police; youths to be let off after undertaking by their families
SRINAGAR: Day after chief minister Mehbooba Mufti called for expediting review of the cases of youth booked on charges of stone pelting, state’s home department approved withdrawal of 104 such cases, involving 634 persons.
SRINAGAR: Day after chief minister Mehbooba Mufti called for expediting review of the cases of youth booked on charges of stone pelting, state’s home department approved withdrawal of 104 such cases, involving 634 persons.
The three-member committee, in its recommendations submitted to the chief minister, has proposed that cases pertaining to the period between 2008 and 2014 be segregated and recommended for withdrawal in a phased manner. Significantly, the CM is incharge of the Home Department. Headed by director general of police, the committee comprised ADGP CID and special secretary home as its members.
The youth are likely to be let off after an undertaking by their families. “Parents of the accused and youth, against whom the cases are to be withdrawn, will have to give an undertaking that they will not indulge in any such activities in future,’’ an official spokesman said.
The committee has, however, made it clear that persons involved in heinous crimes and offenses will be excluded from the review. The recommendations of the committee have been forwarded to police for immediate follow-up action.
Meanwhile, the committee has sought three weeks time for review of the cases pertaining to the period between 2010 and 2014.
On Monday, while chairing a high-level meeting regarding reforms in J&K’s Prisons, the chief minister had called for expediting the process of taking a holistic review of the cases registered against the youth between 2008 and 2014 for stone pelting. She had said the committee constituted for the purpose should decide on merit how many of such cases can be withdrawn to give these young boys an opportunity to begin their lives afresh and carry along as productive citizens.
She is of the opinion that young boys, charged for stone pelting, should be given an opportunity to begin their lives afresh and carry along as productive citizens.
The decision is in tune with Mehbooba’s policy that those not involved in heinous crimes should be released to give them a fresh chance.
Last month, she told the assembly that her government was reviewing all cases of stonepelting since 2008.
Parents of the accused persons and the accused youth, against whom the cases have been withdrawn, will have to give an undertaking that they will not indulge in any such activities in future.
OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN