Centre asks Jammu & Kashmir government to formulate new surrender policy

By Dalip Singh

In a move to eradicate terrorism, the Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to rule the state with a humane heart.

The ministry has advised the Mehbooba Mufti government to withdraw stone-pelting cases against youths and formulate a new surrender and rehabilitation policy.


The state has been recommended to constitute a high-level committee, preferably headed by director general of police or an additional director general of police, to review “non-heinous” cases slapped against Kashmiri boys so that they can resume their studies and focus on their careers without psychological trauma, ministry sources told ET on conditions of anonymity.

At the insistence of the MHA, the state government had announced amnesty scheme on November 23, 2017, to bail out the first-time stone-pelters.

More than 3,650 youths had benefited from the initiative to lead a normal life showing Centre’s resolve to scale down tough stand towards locals in tackling terrorism. According to state government’s statistics, over 9,000 juveniles are likely to be covered under this initiative.

The latest gesture is the another major step the MHA took for restoring peace in the Valley after PM Narendra Modi had in August 2017 stated from ramparts of Red Fort that his government would not hesitate to adopt Kashmiriat approach towards J&K.