*Govt to review cases of first time offenders
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 28: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today announced constitution of two high powered Committees-one headed by Principal Secretary (Home) RK Goyal and another by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, the first one having been empowered with to determine eligibility of families for consideration and payment of ex-gratia, whose next of kin were killed during summer unrest of 2016 in the Kashmir valley.
Mehbooba announced constitution of the two Committees in the Legislative Assembly today in response to Cut Motions moved by various MLAs on the grants of her Ministries. She also holds charge of the Home Department.
In her reply to Adjournment Motion of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly on January 9, Mehbooba had announced Rs 5 lakh compensation and job on extreme compassionate grounds for the next of kin of those killed in Kashmir unrest last year in the aftermath of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen divisional commander Burhan Wani.
The Committee headed by Principal Secretary (Home) RK Goyal will have Director General of Police (DGP) Dr Shesh Pal Vaid, Commissioner/Secretary, Finance Department Navin Choudhary and Inspector General of Police, CID AG Mir as members.
“The Committee has been empowered to determine eligibility of the families and next of kin of those, who died during recent law and order disturbances in the Kashmir valley from July 8, 2016 to November 2, 2016 for consideration and payment of ex-gratia,” Mehbooba said.
The Committee has been set up by the State Government vide Government Order No. 62-Home of 2017 dated 27.1.2017.
Officially, 76 people were reported to have been killed in the summer unrest in Kashmir valley.
Another high level Committee constituted by the Chief Minister and to be headed by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Baseer Khan will have its members as Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone SJM Gilani, Principal Government Medical College, Srinagar Dr Qaiser Ahmad, Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman, Representative of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura, Srinagar (not below the rank of Associate Professor) and Representative of CID Organization, J&K (not below the rank of SSP).
“The Committee will identify the persons, who have been permanently/partially disabled during law and order disturbances in the Kashmir valley from July 8, 2016 to November 2, 2016,” the Chief Minister said.
During her reply on the Adjournment Motion in the Assembly on January 9, the Chief Minister had also announced relief and job in extreme compassionate grounds for those rendered visionless and critically injured.
The Committee has been constituted vide Government Order No. 61-Home of 2017 dated January 27, 2017.
However, as far as payment of compensation to traders, communities, groups and other business entities due to losses during Kashmir unrest was concerned, Mehbooba Mufti announced that their cases would be dealt by the concerned Administrative Departments as per policies and norms of the Government.
The Home Department, held by the Chief Minister, stated that no Enquiry Commission or Judicial Commission has been set up to probe Kashmir unrest but as per a statement made by Mehbooba Mufti on the floor of the House, the Range DIGs have been directed to constitute District Level Investigation Teams headed by the concerned DySP Headquarters for carrying out time bound investigation of all such cases, where deaths of civilians and police personnel were involved.
The Range DIG of South Kashmir Range has been directed to constitute Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by an Additional SP for carrying out time bound investigation in FIR No. 156/2016 in Pampore police station. Similarly, the Range DIG Central Kashmir Range has constituted SIT headed by SP (South) Srinagar for time bound probe in case FIR No. 57/2016 at Karan Nagar police station.
The Chief Minister announced that the Government will consider reviewing cases against first time offenders and those not involved in any heinous crimes, who were arrested in the summer unrest. However, the review would be subject to provision of relevant laws.
“A total of 2655 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered in the Kashmir Valley involving those accused of violence. A total of 8587 persons were arrested for the violence and, out of them, 8473 have been released up to January 22 this year,” she said.
Mehbooba said the details of persons injured and who lost their eyesight during recent law and order situation are being compiled in consultations with the Health and Medical Education Department.
“No report or complaint has been received so far with regard to damage caused by security forces to residential houses and vehicles in Kangan,” she said.
Giving details of property damage during Kashmir unrest, the Chief Minister said a total of 53 Government buildings including Panchayat Ghars, police establishments and Government schools were damaged while 80 others were set ablaze by the mob.
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