WITHDRAWAL OF CASES OF STONE-PELTING
Mehbooba Mufti, has initiated a series of measures for the rehabilitation, social integration and empowerment of youth of the State. Extending the policy of healing touch which started last month with withdrawal of cases against the first time stone-pelters in Valley, the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday ordered the withdrawal of cases of stone-pelting against 4,327 youths to give them an opportunity to rebuild their lives afresh in the restive Kashmir valley. This follows the recommendation of a high-powered committee headed by Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid which submitted its report to her.
The decision marks the revival of the process of withdrawal of cases started by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti last year immediately after taking over. Mufti had initiated a process of review of cases against youths from 2008 to 2014 and in the first instance 104 cases involving 634 youths were withdrawn within two months of her assuming power, the official said. The process got disrupted due to the continued violence and unrest in later part of the last year. Mufti ordered the withdrawal of cases of stone-pelting against 4,327 youths in 744 cases as reported.
“With this, the total number of cases withdrawn so far on the directions of the chief minister has gone to 848 and the persons benefiting out of these withdrawals stands at 4,957,” as reported.
The chief minister, it may be recalled, had committed the withdrawal of cases against youths found not involved in heinous crimes.
Mufti had recently directed the review of cases from 2015 till date and decision on the same would be taken on the receipt of the report by the high-powered committee. The withdrawal of cases against these youths was a major demand from various sections of the society in the state.
The chief minister described this decision as a ray of hope for these young boys and their families terming it as an opportunity for them to rebuild their lives. She hoped that the decision would help in creating a “positive and conciliatory atmosphere in the state where the youth would be able to build their lives in a more constructive and positive way”.
DISTRIBUTION OF JOB ORDERS AMONG PELLET VICTIMS
Pellet victims have a reason to smile. Over one thousand locals had received pellet injuries in numerous protests involving stone-pelting and retaliation by security forces to control the law and order situation during the 4-month long unrest that triggered following the death of Burhan Wani, the Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti on Dec 5th distributed orders of appointment among a group of youth who lost their eyesight due to pellet injuries in stone pelting incidents.
It may be recalled that on September 14 and 28 the Chief Minister had also disbursed financial assistance among two groups of such pellet victims. Besides, the Chief Minister had supervised the treatment of these victims last year as well.
The face of the pellet horror Insha Mushtaq, who lost her eyes to pellet guns at Sadew village, however, has reportedly been promised the gas agency by the chief minister.
“This is in continuation of her earlier measures taken for the rehabilitation of the victims of violence during the unrest of last year,” an official spokesman said.
He said the chief minister had also disbursed financial assistance among two groups of such pellet victims in September this year.
Besides, Mufti had supervised the treatment of these victims last year as well, he said.
RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF FIRE INCIDENT
Meanwhile, Chief Minister also disbursed relief assistance among the victims of recent fire incident at Reshi Bazaar, Anantnag in which more than 30 business establishments and houses were gutted on the intervening night of November 20-21.
The assistance includes Rs 50,000 in cash for fully damaged structure, Rs 30, 000 cash assistance for severely damaged structure and Rs 25, 000 for partially damaged structure. This is in addition to the relief assistance given to them already on the instructions of the Chief Minister by the district administration under Red Cross, SDRF and other heads.
Interacting with a group of fire-sufferers, the Chief Minister expressed her sympathies with them and assured all possible support from her government for their proper rehabilitation.
Mehbooba Mufti assured them to look into their demands of revisiting insurance claims and availability of timber and other building material to raise back their structures.