The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday set up a judicial commission to probe the recent civilian deaths in Kashmir Valley.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar.

The commission to be headed by justice Bashir-ud-Din, a retired judge of the state high court. He will be assisted by another retired judge, Justice YP Nargotra.

An official spokesman said, "The commission will inquire into all the 17 incidents in Kashmir division in which fatalities had occurred on account of action by the state police and security forces since June 11.

The commission will submit its report within three months."

The cabinet also approved that the committee constituted earlier will immediately review the cases of detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and make recommendations about the release of detenues.

By another decision the state cabinet also sanctioned an ex-gratia relief of Rs. five lakh to the next of kin of each victim or Rs 1 lakh and a government job.