Srinagar, Oct 8: Even after the Centre gave clear instructions to Jammu and Kashmir government to release and drop all charges against the students and youth arrested or detained for stone-pelting during the Valley unrest, the authorities here are allegedly deliberately delaying the process.
Apart from hundreds of arrested persons, 52 youth including 31 students have been detained under PSA during the past three months of the unrest in the Valley.
In a bid to reach out to the masses, the Centre government had advised the state J&K government to release students and youth. But, state government seems sleeping over the issue and have decided to release only 12 youth detained under Public Safety Act. Infact, they also have not been released yet.
Parents of most of the youth alleged that state government was deliberately delaying the release of their children. Ali Muhammad (name changed), a parent said his son had been lodged in Centre Jail Srinagar. He said his family was expecting that Centre and state government would be sincere with the Kashmiri people after the former announced the release of the youth detained in stonepelting charges. He alleged “State government is deliberately delaying the release of our children.”
Another parent from downtown locality of the city said his son was detained under PSA on flimsy grounds. He accused police of harassing his family and their wards “unnecessarily.” “It seems police is out to prove a point and settle some scores with the people. Youth are being arrested at will and they are being detained on flimsy ground,” he alleged.
Ironically, a day after government decided to release the 12 youth, police today arrested 11 more youth from different parts of the city on charges of stonpelting.
The principal secretary home, B R Sharma said, “The release of the stonepelters will be decided on merit basis. We have to see the culpability of the stonepelters.” Sharma said they would meet again regarding the release of the youth.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST