J&K police to be lenient for first time offenders

Jammu and Kashmir Police is considering to take a lenient view in the cases against the youths who were found indulging in stone-pelting for the first time in Pulwama district of the state, an official said today.
Police department has organised counseling sessions for youths who have been involved in stone-pelting incidents in Pulwama district, which witnessed widespread violence during the Lok Sabha polling on April 24, a police spokesman said.
"On the basis of these sessions, taking a lenient view with regard to first time offenders is under consideration of police department," he said.
He said a team of experts had a day-long session with these youth. The aim of the programme was to understand the situations which drew these youth towards the acts of violence.

The programmes were held in different groups in which the counselors encouraged the participants to talk freely and give vent to their emotions, the spokesman said.
He said the experts in these sessions have found certain issues confronting these youths, including the need for more employment opportunities, and some other issues related to the breakdown of relations.
"In these sessions the participants shared their feelings and various perspectives were discussed for channelising their energies towards gainful employment and for positive usage of their capabilities," the spokesman said.
They also discussed the good entrepreneurship development activities carried out by different departments, including J&K Entrepreneur Development Institute (EDI), Directorate of Lifelong Learning (DLL), University Science Instrumentation Centre (USIC) and the professional courses run by the other Industrial Institutes in the valley.