Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir government led by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday ordered the withdrawal of cases registered against 9,730 people involved in stone-pelting incidents.


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Announcing the decision in the state assembly, Mufti said, ''W#e have decided to withdraw cases registered against 9,730, including first-time offenders, between 2008 and 2017 in connection with the incidents of stone-pelting.''


''The government's move to withdraw 1,745 cases is subject to "certain conditions" and is based on recommendations of a committee constituted to look into the matter,'' Mufti said.


The PDP leader further informed that her government has also decided to grant amnesty to more than 4,000 people, who are said to be involved in minor incidents of stone pelting over the past two years.


Mufti said this in a written reply to a question related to government's stand on stone-pelting incidents in J&K.


Mufti, however, did not disclose the particulars of first-time offenders due to security considerations for them and their families.


Giving details, Mufti said 3,773 cases were registered in 2016 and 2017, leading to the arrest of 11,290 people, of whom 233 remained untraced.


Seven cases were not admitted and 1,692 were chargesheeted, while 1,841 cases were under investigation, Mufti, who holds the home department portfolio, said.


The Chief Minister said while 2,904 cases were registered and 8,570 people were arrested in connection with stone- pelting incidents in 2016, the number of such cases in 2017 dropped to 869 in which 2,720 people were arrested.


Sharing region-wise details about the number of people arrested in connection with the stone-pelting cases, Mufti said, ''The highest 2,330 people were arrested in Srinagar followed by 2,046 in Baramulla, 1,385 in Pulwama, 1,123 in Kupwara, 1,118 in Anantnag, 783 in Budgam, 714 in Ganderbal, 694 in Shopian, 548 in Bandipora, 547 in Kulgam and two in Doda districts during 2016 and 2017.''


She said 56 government employees and 16 Hurriyat Conference activists were among the 4,949 people found involved in stone-pelting incidents, while 4,074 were not affiliated with any separatist or militant group. 


Intense clashes had rocked Kashmir Valley in 2016 following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July that year, resulting in the death of over 85 people.


CM Mufti had come under criticism for giving a go-ahead to the J&K Police to register a case against Army personnel who allegedly opened fire when their convoy was attacked with stones in Shopian district recently. 


The firing resulted in the death of some civilians following which triggered a protest in the Kashmir Valley.


The arm also filed a counter-FIR in the case later.


(With PTI inputs)