The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday ordered the release of 115 prisoners on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr which will be celebrated in the state on Saturday.
“In view of Eid-ul-Fitr, the government has ordered the release of 115 prisoners, with least involvement, from various jails of the state,” an official spokesman said.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had directed officials to release all those prisoners found not involved in serious crimes so that they can celebrate Eid with their families, he said.
“The agencies concerned, after undertaking the exercise, decided to take lenient view and effect their release,” he added.
The move has come a few days after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had announced that cases against minors and those “misled into stone pelting” in the Valley will be withdrawn.
The Union Home Ministry late last year had also ordered to withdraw cases against youths involved in stone pelting. Singh, who visited the valley for two days last week, appealed to the youths not to tread the path of destruction and said the Centre and the state government had initiated several schemes to help them secure their future.
Following the announcement made by the home minister, a committee was set up by the Jammu and Kashmir government which recommended withdrawal of cases against 5,000 youths accused of pelting stones on security forces.
(With agency inputs)