Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia, job to kin of those killed in Kashmir unrest: J&K Chief Minister

JAMMU, JANUARY 09: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today appealed all shades of opinion in the State to help the Government to ensure that the unfortunate cycles of violence like the recent one in Kashmir are not repeated and people do not suffer any longer. She also announced setting up of Special Investigating Teams (SITs) to probe the killings during the summer unrest of Kashmir besides announcing ex gratia relief and several other rehabilitation measures for those killed, injured or affected during the recent turmoil in the Valley.
Winding up the discussion on Adjournment Motion in the Legislative Assembly this morning, the Chief Minister said earnest effort would be made by her Government to create a congenial atmosphere in the State for dialogue and resolution of issues for which she sought cooperation from all shades of opinion.
Mehbooba Mufti announced the setting up of a Special Investigating Team to probe the killing of a lecturer at Khrew, an ATM guard at Karan Nagar and other such killings. She also announced setting up of an SIT in each district to investigate the killings and injuries there and to ascertain if excessive force was used to deal with the situations. She said that these SITs would be asked to submit their reports in a time bound manner. Once the reports are received if anything more requires to be done would be done to deliver justice to the affected, the Chief Minister assured the House.
The Chief Minister also announced an ex gratia relief of Rs. Five lakhs in favour of the next of kin of those killed during the unrest. She said possibilities of providing jobs would also be explored in cases of extreme compassion. Also, she said, job opportunities would be made available to the persons who lost their eyesight during the crises.
Mehbooba Mufti said arrangements for education at Delhi and other places would be made for the students whose eyesight got affected during the said turmoil. She said she has already spoken to the Prime Minister and union Finance Minister in this regard.
The Chief Minister also announced rehabilitation package in favour of the people who were injured during the turmoil with varying disability.
The Chief Minister said at present only 138 persons are in judicial/police custody who were arrested in cases related to unrest. “All others who were arrested in the cases have been released on bail,” she said and added that out of 463 persons detained under PSA, 145 have been released. She said the cases of the persons presently under detention are being reviewed and those least involved will be released. She said immediately after taking over, she had ordered a review of the cases of youth since 2008 so that they could start their life afresh. But, she regretted, the whole process got slowed down due to the disturbed situation in the Kashmir Valley during the last five months or so.
Mehbooba Mufti said she has categorically directed the security agencies during the last Unified Command meeting to ensure the return back of local youth involved in militancy to family fold and take all measures required for that. She said so far six youth have been rescued back during encounters with the help of their families.
Mehbooba Mufti said she does not favour comparing the situations in 2016 and 2010. “Our people have not chosen us to count the dead but to get Jammu & Kashmir out of this morass”, she said and sought cooperation from the members in her efforts to ensure that such unfortunate cycles of violence are not repeated and people do not suffer any longer. She appreciated the unanimous concern of the House in expressing sorrow and pain over the killings and added that every shade of opinion in the State should come forward and contribute in developing a violence free, peaceful State.
Earlier, several members spoke on the Motion and expressed sorrow over the loss of lives during the summer unrest in Kashmir Valley.