‘Govt approves amnesty to stone pelters, legal process begun, CPOs to file order in court for further action’: DGP

Srinagar: Stating that the government has approved the amnesty for first time stone pelters with court formalities having already begun, the Director General Police S P Vaid on Sunday said that “security forces will go tough against stone pelters habitual of obstructing anti-militancy operations.
“Government has approved the amnesty to first time stone pelters and accordingly we have started the legal process. The list is being completed. Chief prosecuting officers in the session court will file government order in the court for further action.” the DGP while elaborating the approved amnesty told KNS over phone.
He said that while the first time stone pelters are being given chance, but those who are habitual of stone pelting will face the law. “Harsh measure will be put in place to prevent those who are habitual of stone pelting and are obstructing anti- militancy operations,” he maintained.
The DGP further said that police is trying best to change the minds of misguided youth. “It is also the responsibility of the parents and society to guide their children. We are identifying the children vulnerable to inimical propaganda and started counseling them so that these kids do not fall prey to any unlawful activity,” the DGP maintained.
The police chief further said that counseling by police to stone-pelters and roping in their parents for support has been effective in curbing violence especially in the Srinagar District. “There is a huge improvement in the situation in Valley and main credit goes to the people of Kashmir as they have also realized the futility of this and damaging their own property,” the DGP said and added that we are thankful to officers and jawans who were working in the fields.
The DGP added that the police have faced tough times to deal with the militants and while maintaining law and order in the valley. “Despite the challenges, our men are continuing doing good work to bring normalcy in the valley,” he said.
He said that the Jammu and Kashmir police have been at the forefront in dealing with militants like other security forces and many of our men have sacrificed their lives to bring normalcy in the valley.
It is to mention here that the chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had announced amnesty for first-time “offenders of stone pelting”. “It gives me immense satisfaction to restart the process of withdrawing FIRs against first time offenders of stone pelting. My government had initiated the process in May, 2016 but it was unfortunately stalled due to the unrest later that year,” Mufti had said.
Mehbooba had said the government’s initiative was based on recommendations by the Centre’s interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma, a former Intelligence Bureau chief tasked with starting a peace process in the Kashmir. Sources said, about 11,000 FIRs were registered over stone-pelting incidents following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani in July last year. There are reports that charges are being dropped against more than 4500 first time stone pelters in Kashmir Valley. (KNS)