mnesty scheme: 50 released

More youth to be released in a day or two: DGP

SRINAGAR, Aug 29: Police has started to release youth who have been booked for throwing stones and in the first phase around 50 youth have been released. More youth are expected to be released tomorrow, but after proper scrutiny.

“The release of the arrested youth has been started after the chief minister Omar Abdullah announced the same,” Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda told Kashmir Times over phone. “Some youth have been released and more will be released in day or two. The cases against them are being withdrawn,” he added.

The police chief said that the youth who are involved in arson would not be released or left. “The youth who are involved in arson would not be released and every district SSP is following the announcement in letter and spirit,” Khoda added.

In Srinagar, police has released around 50 youth who were lodged in different jails for throwing stones. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari told KTNS that around 50 youth were released. “We have released around 50 among the arrested lot,” he said. “The others will be released after proper scrutiny. We are examining the cases against them,” he added.

The SSP said that their release depends on their involvement. “We will look into their cases at a fast pace because of Eid-ul-Fitr,” Bukhari added.

A middle rung police officer told KTNS that north division of police in the city will decide in the evening about the release of more youth. “Today evening cases of youth arrested for stone throwing would be scrutinised,” he said and refused to divulge further details.

However, police has not released the seven youth who were arrested on Sunday in Anantnag district of south Kashmir. Top sources in police said that once they (seven youth) get bail, there is possibility of their release. “They are involved in fresh cases of stone throwing and did not fall in amnesty announcement category,” a senior police officer from Anantnag told KTNS.

Meanwhile, the security arrangements for Eid were also finalised today at high level meeting chaired by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir S M Sahai. The security arrangements for Eid were discussed in length.

During the meeting, according to police sources, it was decided that police and CRPF troopers would be deployed heavily at all volatile places across the valley to foil any attempt of disruption of peace.

“We did not clamp curfew last year despite high running tension and there is no chance of curfew on this Eid. But there will be heavy security arrangement in place,” a senior police officer who attended the meeting told KTNS on the basis of anonymity. “Police would not take any risk,” he added.

The meeting was attended by IG and DIGs of CRPF, and SSP of all volatile districts of valley. DIG north Kashmir, DIG Srinagar, SSP Srinagar, SSP Baramulla and SP Sopore were present during the meeting.

(www.kashmirtimes.com/ 30/08/2011)