Youth held in Valley to be released immediately

A crucial meeting of the combined unified headquarters held in Srinagar under the chairmanship of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday evening decided to release all the arrested youth immediately.

Wednesday's decision is a follow up to the eight-point initiative announced by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi on Saturday last.

Chidambaram headed an all-party delegation which visited the state last week.\

Addressing a news conference in the police control room, the state home commissioner B R Sharma said that the Jammu and Kashmir government will immediately release the youth, students who have been arrested for stone pelting during the unrest in Valley.

He said these youth/students will be handed over to their parents on the assurance of their good conduct in future.

Sharma also said that 16 bunkers in summer capital Srinagar will be removed, thereby descaling the number of bunkers and check points.

The home commissioner said that two committees comprising of senior civil, army and police officers, one each for Jammu and Kashmir provinces, were constituted to review the areas which have been declared as 'disturbed' under the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

"The committees will carry out a detailed review and submit their recommendations to the apex committee which has been constituted, and the committees have been directed to submit their recommendations at the earliest," he added.

Sharma also said that mobile services in Baramulla and Sopore will be re-activated immediately.

The unified headquarters was also informed that the Centre has issued orders sanctioning ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the persons who lost their lives in civil disturbances since June 11.