- MHA gives nod to withdrawal of stone pelting cases, asks JK Govt to frame surrender policy
- Over 9000 stone pelters to benefit from amnesty, state told to form panel on KPs
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday announced fresh measures which will be taken by the Jammu and Kashmir government to restore normalcy in the state.
Singh said the Ministry of Home Affairs has given its approval to the state government to enforce amnesty scheme that it announced on November 23 last year to give relief to 3,685 students and youth who were apprehended for participating in incidents of stone pelting against the forces.
Officials said that the matter was discussed during a meeting between Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, in New Delhi. Singh informed that the amnesty scheme for stone pelters also came under discussion,
“Under this scheme, nearly 3,685 students/youth have got relief so far. More than 9,000 students/youth are likely to be covered,” officials said.
Rajnath Singh said that the amnesty is aimed at giving students and youth another chance to rebuild their lives and careers without being “under any kind of stress of being declared criminals.” The state government, the minister further said, has been advised to appoint a high-level committee to review the remaining cases of stone pelting. This committee would be headed by a senior police officer.
“The MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) is of the view that stone pelting cases of a non-grievous nature against the students/youth should be closed/withdrawn so that they get a chance to focus on their studies and pursue their careers without any psychological pressure,” a statement issued from Rajnath’s office said.
Earlier on January 22, Mehbooba had in the Upper House of the Legislature said that the government was mulling to extend amnesty to stone pelters, who are booked in more than one FIRs.
On 23 November 2017, state government on the advice of MHA announced an amnesty scheme for youth who were involved in incidents of stone pelting for the first time. The announcement was followed a formal order by state’s Home department which had directed the constitution of a review committee on cases registered against youth from 2015 to 2017.
Mehbooba had said that the process to review the stone pelting cases against youth was initiated in May 2016 but was stalled due to the unrest triggered after the killing of Hizb commander, Burhan Wani.
State government has also been advised to formulate a new surrender and rehabilitation policy that “will ensure economic rehabilitation and provide suitable training to the youth to run their own businesses, return to the mainstream and lead a dignified life.”
The state government has also been advised by the Home Ministry to create an advisory board to redress grievances of migrants, displaced persons and West Pakistan refugees in the region and told to take steps to repair and renovate “old and dilapidated migrant camps” at Jagati and Talwara.
It has also been decided to restart work on an artificial lake in Jammu.
Moreover, the MHA has also asked the State Government to formulate a new surrender and rehabilitation policy to bring back youth to mainstream who have joined militancy.
“In order to provide an opportunity for alternative path of peace and prosperity to the Kashmiri youth who have joined militancy, MHA has also advised the state government to formulate a new surrender and rehabilitation policy,” said an official, adding, “The policy will provide them with economic rehabilitation and suitable training to run their own business etc. enabling them to return to the mainstream and lead a dignified life.”
