Srinagar, June 24: Eight months after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced amnesty to “stone throwers”, cases against 2100 youth named in around 300 FIRs (First Information Reports) on the charges of “stone-pelting and disruption of peace” during the 2010 unrest have been withdrawn.
 Police said they are looking into 50 more cases and these too are likely to be withdrawn in near future.
 The data available with police reveals that at least 451 FIRs involving 4013 youth were registered during 2010 unrest across the Kashmir valley. During the year, 125 people mostly youth were killed after police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) opened fire on protestors in every nook and corner of valley.
 “Only those FIRs have been withdrawn in which the youth were booked for normal offences of indulging in stone-throwing, stray incidents of violence and instigating street protests,” a senior official of Home Department told Greater Kashmir on the basis of anonymity.” Since police has withdrawn prosecution against the youth from the court of law on instructions of the Home Department, the FIRs registered against them have been rendered null and void. “The withdrawal of around 300 FIRs will benefit more than 2100 youth,” official sources said.
 The process according to official was started last year (August) when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made the announcement of general amnesty. Under the scheme, youth involved in the cases of stone throwing except those who have burnt government property, will be given another chance to become responsible citizens. “We have decided to give the youth a second chance. Cases against all the youths arrested on charges of stone-pelting, but not involved in arson, registered during last year’s disturbance will be withdrawn,” Omar had told reporters during a press conference at SKICC last year.
 The official said that the youth charged with serious offences like attacking paramilitary and police or indulging in arson would face the charges in the court of law. “There is no contradiction. It is true,” Shiv Murari Sahai, inspector general of police (Kashmir zone) said.
 J&K Director General of Police (DGP), K Rajendra Kumar admitted that cases have been withdrawn. “It was the decision of the Chief Minister and cases against more than two thousand youth have been withdrawn,” he told Greater Kashmir. “We are also looking into more than 50 cases and I am hopeful those would be withdrawn. He said the criminal record of the youths will be cleared and they will get another chance to build a better future.”
 “There was some kind of misguided fervor among these youth but that does not mean that we should be heading against them for the rest of their lives,” DGP Rajendra said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 24 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 24 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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