Stone-throwing: Govt to drop cases against 4,500 first-time offenders

New Delhi, November 21

Taking the suggestion of the Centre’s special representative Dineshwar Sharma forward, over 4,500 cases against youth involved in stone-throwing for the first time will be dropped in a bid to win hearts in the Kashmir valley, officials said.

Sharma, who visited the Valley earlier this month, was flooded with requests from various individuals and groups for withdrawing the cases against youth who were booked by the police for indulging in stone-throwing.

Over 11,500 cases against stone-throwers have been registered since July last year when unrest broke out in Kashmir following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani in an encounter, they said.

Out of these, over 4,500 cases were registered against the youth who were found indulging in stone-throwing for the first time, the officials said.

When contacted, Sharma refused to comment on it but said “my attempt was to change the narrative in the state to peace and for that I need the support of youths and students.” The officials said after seeing the response of the step, the Centre would review the remaining cases against stone-throwers in consultation with the PDP-BJP government in the state.

The Centre may also consider rehabilitating locals who have joined militant groups but have not indulged in any heinous crime, they said.

Sharma found residents in the Valley facing the problem of electricity shortage, especially during winter; therefore, an additional 300 mega watt will be provided to Kashmir this year.

Attempts are being made to ensure round-the-clock electricity supply by the beginning of winter next year, the officials said, adding talks are being held with the power ministry for implementing this project.

The Central government will also enhance the compensation to the policemen killed during encounters. At present, a local policeman gets Rs 40 lakh.

All these issues were discussed in detail recently by the core group meeting on Kashmir, chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and attended by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, the officials said.

Top officials of the ministries of home and defence, chiefs of intelligence agencies, besides Sharma also attended the meeting. — PTI

Relief to kin of slain cops may go up

A whopping 10-fold increase in the Centre’s share in the compensation given to the next of kin of J&K policemen killed while fighting terrorists is in offing as part of the efforts to stamp out militancy from the state, officials said. Under a revised proposal, which is likely to get the nod after necessary formalities in the Union Home Ministry, the next of kin of a policeman killed in an encounter will get Rs 70 lakh instead of the existing Rs 43 lakh, officials said. The ex gratia from the Centre will increase from the existing Rs 3 lakh to Rs 30 lakh, the officials said.