The decision to free the prisoners, as a follow up of the talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] and Hurriyat Conference leaders in Delhi in September, was taken by the Joint Screening Committee comprising officials of the state and the Centre in Srinagar [Images] on Monday.

The committee had discussed a list of 55 people cleared by the Union Home Ministry last week for release. However, only 44 people, booked under Public Safety Act and other minor offences, were cleared for release by the Screening Commitee, a Union Home Ministry spokesman said in New Delhi.

Immediately after the meeting between the prime minister and the Hurriyat Conference, the Union Home Ministry had initiated the process of reviewing all cases of those detained under Public Safety Act and now-defunct Prevention of Terrorism Act in Jammu and Kashmir. The Ministry, accordingly, advised the state government to examine the cases and make its recommendations at the earliest for consideration of a Joint Screening Committee.

Following this, the state government submitted a list of more than 400 people to be released out of which only 55 were cleared by the Home Ministry. At the meeting with Hurriyat leaders on September 5, the prime minister had agreed that the government would make a time-bound review of all those held under PSA and POTA.

Sarabjit Saga: Complete coverege

The spokesman on Monday reiterated the Centre's commitment to carry forward the dialogue process and take all possible measures to strengthen peace initiatves on a sustanied basis.