J&K govt to free 50 youths

The state government also formed two committees comprising senior civil, Army and police officers, one each for Jammu and Kashmir provinces, to review those places that has been declared as disturbed areas under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The committees will carry out a detailed review and submit their recommendations to an apex committee, constituted under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Principal Secretary (Home) B R Sharma told media persons on Wednesday that the decision was taken during the Combined Unified Headquarters meeting chaired by the chief minister. The government decisions came a day prior to the beginning of the crucial J&K legislature session.

During the day, the state government filed a defamation complaint in a court against two senior leaders of the PDP, Nizam-u-Din Bhat and Nayeem Akhtar, for accusing Omar Abdullah of receiving kickbacks in allotting rattle power project some time ago.

The autumn session of the state legislature is beginning on Thursday with the BJP moving a no-confidence motion against the National Conference-led ruling coalition. The main opposition, PDP, intends to target the government for the ongoing civil unrest and killing of 109 civilians in police and security forces firing over the last four months.

This is for the first time since 1990 that the legislature session is being held here amid tension. Providing security to the chief minister, ministers and other legislators would be a challenge amid growing public anger. A senior police officer said curfew would be imposed in Srinagar on Thursday.

“The state government has decided to immediately release the youth/students, who have been arrested for stone pelting,” said Sharma.

Fifty of the youngsters will be released immediately, while the 48 booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) will be let out after a review committee meeting on October 6.