Anantnag, Mar 27, KMW: Scores of youth who have been booked for their alleged involvement in stone-pleting and arson incidents during 2010 summer agitation and poll process Friday staged a protest outside the court presmises in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district demanding either amnesty or speedy trial of their cases. The protesters
termed the slow trial of their cases related to stone-pelting as a punitive measure and pressed for speedy trial.
In 2011, then J&K state government had announced the introduction of an amnesty scheme to withdraw cases against people allegedly involved in stone-pelting that occurred during unrest in the state in 2010.
The protesting youth alleged that their studies and other routine work gets affected on daiy basis as they have to present themselves frequently in the court of law. “Eleven FIRS’ have been registered against me in different police stations of the district. I have to make myself available in the court frequently as a result my studies get affected and I fail to attend the college,†a final year student Showkat Ahmed Gilkar told.
Another protester Asif Ahmed said that he was working as a Salesman but lost three jobs so far due to his frequent absence from job. “Police have booked in stone-pelting charges and 19 FIR’s have been registered against me. I can’t afford attending court frequently and appeal to the government for the speedy trial or review of our cases,†he said.
Another protester Rouf Ahmed said that, “even though we are not detained, but we face considerable uncertainty and stigma, and the risk of being detained again in order to aid investigations.â€
“We appeal to the present government to announce general amnesty for us so that we can live a normal and peaceful life,†they said.
