Srinagar, Sept 29: In the first major reconciliatory steps, Jammu and Kashmir government today decided to immediately release 52 youths including 31 students, who were arrested on charges of stone-pelting during the ongoing unrest, and formed two provincial committees to review areas declared as disturbed under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
These were among the decisions announced by the State Home Commissioner B R Sharma after the meeting of Unified Headquarters (UHQ), which was chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
"The state government will immediately release youths including students who have been arrested for stone-pelting. They will be handed over to their parents on the assurance of good conduct in future," Sharma told reporters.
He said two committees -- comprising senior civil, army and police officers -- one each for the Valley and Jammu province, were constituted to review the areas, which have been declared as disturbed under the AFSPA.
"The committees will carry out a detailed review and submit their recommendations to the Apex committee, which has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister," Sharma said adding the committees have been directed to submit their recommendations at the earliest.
With regard to the deployment of security forces, he said the Unified Headquarters decided to remove 16 bunkers from various places in Srinagar city, thereby descaling the number of check points and bunkers.
Sharma said the UHQ will review deployment of security forces' bunkers in other towns in future meetings.
On the issue relating to detainees under Public Safety Act (PSA), he said the Review Committee will meet on October 6 to take a decision on it. He said 48 youths have been detained under PSA during the past three and half months of the unrest in the Valley.
Sharma said the mobiles services in north Kashmir Baramulla and Sopore towns, which was suspended in July, will be restored immediately.
"The meeting was informed that Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has issued orders sanctioning ex-gratia relief of Rs five lakh to the kin of each person who lost their lives in the civil disturbances since June 11," he said adding the Rs 100 crore additional assistance from the Centre for bringing about improvement and addition to the education infrastucture was also discussed.
The UHQ also reviewed the security situation prevailing in the state. Senior civil, Army, police, CRPF and intelligence officials central and state agencies were present in the meeting. PTI
