CCS for release of stone throwers, grant raised to Rs 5 lakh

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) today decided to release the students detained for stone throwing in Jammu and Kashmir recently and give an ex-gratia grant of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of those killed since June 11 in Jammu and Kashimir.

Soon after the CCS meeting, Home Minister P Chidambaram said the Union government would request the J&K government to convene a meeting of the unified command immediately to review deployment of security forces in the Valley, especially in Srinagar, with particular reference to de-scaling the number of bunkers and checkpoints in towns. The government also said the state government should review the notification of areas as ‘disturbed areas.’ Since the start of the protests and violent clashes, 108 people have lost their lives, including school students and teenagers. CCS has also decided to appoint a group of interlocutors under the chairmanship of an eminent person to begin the process of sustained dialogue with political parties, groups, students and civil society members.

“The Centre will advise the Jammu and Kashmir government to release all students detained for stone throwing and similar violations of law and to withdraw all charges,” said Chidambaram.

CCS has decided to provide Rs 100 crore to the state government as Additional Central Assistance (ACA) to make grants to schools and colleges for improvement and to make additions to the existing infrastructure such as class rooms, auditorium, laboratory, library, play ground and toilet complex. “The government would request the state government to take steps to immediately reopen all schools, colleges, universities, hold special classes and to ensure examinations are conducted on schedule for the current year,” Chidambaram told reporters.

Chidambaram said the Centre will advise the J&K government to review cases of all those detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and withdraw detention orders in appropriate cases. The Centre has directed the state government to appoint two Special Task Forces, one each for Jammu and Ladakh regions that could examine the developmental needs of the two areas, deficiencies in infrastructure and make suitable recommendations.