1,811 stone pelters released: Govt

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 11: State Government today said that 1811 persons involved in cases of stone-pelting in the Kashmir valley during 2010 summer unrest were released under the amnesty scheme. However, the scheme will not be extended to those involved in arson and damage to public property during the period.
In a written reply to the question of independent MLA from Langate, Er Sheikh Abdul Rashid, the Minister Incharge Home informed the Legislative Assembly that Chief Minister had announced amnesty for youth arrested since March 2010 for their involvement in stone pelting and other related violence.
“The scheme envisages amnesty to all those involved in stone pelting incidents during the summer unrest in Valley from March 2010. However, this policy will not be extended to those who are involved in arson and damage to public property”, the Minister said.
Stating that Government has decided to take a lenient view on those involved in stone pelting for the first time and also on those who are not directly involved in various cases, the Minister said, “the effort of the Government in this amnesty scheme is to facilitate these youth to pursue their higher education and job opportunities and their involvement in these cases may not affect adversely in the verifications for obtaining passport, service verifications and for obtaining loans for education/jobs”.
In the aftermath of announcement of scheme, Government has granted amnesty to 1811 persons involved in 230 cases of stone pelting incidents of year 2010 and 2011.