Mufti orders release of political prisoners with no criminal charges

Mufti’s instructions to the police have come as another shock to the BJP.

After crediting Pakistan and the separatist Hurriyat Conference for peaceful assembly elections in Jammu Kashmir, state chief minister Mufti Sayeed has now asked the police to release political prisoners against whom no criminal charges have been registered.

The directions, according to an official spokesperson, came at a detailed review meeting held by Mufti Sayeed with Director General of Police, K Rajendra, on Wednesday. Inspector General, CID, B. Srinivasan had also attended the meeting.

“Mufti Sayeed instructed the police to initiate a process of releasing all those political prisoners in the state against whom no criminal charges are registered,” the spokesperson said. “Initiating a process of release of political prisoners would send a positive message across the political spectrum of the state,” the Chief Minister said, adding that “dissent in democracy makes the system vibrant and dynamic”.

“We should always try to evolve such a system adding democracy is a battle of ideas and it should not be held hostage to the agreements or disagreements on issues,” the spokesperson quoting the chief minister said.

During the meeting, Mufti also directed for making the passport clearances time bound and minimizing the procedural wrangles. The delays in issuing passports and providing clearances for travel have been a constant source of dismay and irritation for common people, he pointed out and directed the police authorities to make the police verification process time bound and transparent.

He also asked the police to evolve a practicable mechanism by which more and more such cases are decided in quick time frame and the minor procedural wrangles are done away with. On the issue of providing travel documents to intending Hajj pilgrims, the Chief Minister categorically directed that their cases should be cleared well in advance and no pilgrim should be subjected to inconvenience and difficulties during the whole process.

Pointing out that the police will have to bring in a behavioural change amongst themselves and present a soft humane face to the people and a helping hand to the needy, he also directed the DGP to prepare a comprehensive plan for the rehabilitation of surrendered and released militants so that they are integrated into the mainstream of the society of the state. “These youth should be given a chance to settle down and lead a normal life as other citizens of the State and contribute to the society,” he added.

Significantly, Mufti’s instructions to the police have come as another shock to the BJP whose leaders in the state say that they “will not allow it it happen”. “Such things cannot go like…There are certain decisions which have to be taken at the cabinet and chief minister of a coalition government cannot take at the individual level,” said Ashok Koul, party general secretary (organization).

Ever since Mufti Sayeed led PDP-BJP government had been sworn in the state on March 1, it has raked up one or the other controversy. After Mufti’s crediting Pakistan and Hurriyat for peaceful assembly polls, eight PDP legislators had described the hanging of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru as travesty of justice and demanded return of his mortal remains.

Source:: Indian Express