J&K government to grant amnesty to stone-pelters by Eid

Youth lodged in prisons for stone-pelting in Kashmir are likely to be granted amnesty on the occasion of Eid with the state government initiating the process of reviewing their cases before the festival.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday asked the home department to review before Eid the cases of the youth lodged in various jails on charges of stone-pelting to afford them an opportunity to rebuild their careers.

A committee comprising Director General of Police, Director General of Prisons and Principal Secretary Home will review the cases of all the youth under-trials lodged in various jails to give them an opportunity to live as productive citizens, she said while chairing a high-level meeting regarding bringing about reforms in state prisons.

Eid is expected on coming Wednesday.

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.

Earlier, last month, she told the assembly that her government was reviewing all cases of stone-pelting since 2008. "Those not involved in heinous crimes will be released and some may be released before Eid," she had said.

Mehbooba also asked Director General of Police K Rajendra Kumar to take up the matter regarding deportation of a mentally-challenged Pakistani national to his country who is lodged in a jail in the state for having inadvertently crossed the LoC.

"Why has been the person kept in jail for so long, when he is not only deaf and dumb, but mentally deranged also," she asked, adding the state and its law enforcing agencies should not be seen acting in such a callous manner and be more humane in their approach.

Stressing the need for review and upgradation of the jail manual in the state, the chief minister said the review, which is already overdue, should be aimed at making the prisons "centres of reformation" and not the places of punishment.

She also called for identification of alternate site in the periphery of Srinagar city for shifting of central jail from its existing location in Kathidarwaza area of the Shahr-e-Khaas.

Stressing the need for imparting skill training to the jail inmates, the chief minister said the government would bring the jails under the purview of the integrated skill development mission.