The Hindu : National : Jammu & Kashmir Government orders release of 40 detenus

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Sunday, Mar 26, 2006

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National

Jammu & Kashmir Government orders release of 40 detenus

Shuja'at Bukhari

Eight walk free from jail on the outskirts of Jammu

OUT AT LAST: Two prisoners coming out of the Kotbhalwal Central Jail, on the outskirts of Jammu on Saturday. — PHOTO: AP

SRINAGAR : As part of a decision taken at the February 25 roundtable conference held in New Delhi, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the release of 40 detenus lodged in various jails. Eight were released from the Kotbhalwal jail near Jammu on Saturday.

Official sources said the Government accepted the recommendations of a high level committee to release 40 people accused of comparatively minor offences.

The committee, with Financial Commissioner (Home) S.B. Mathur, Director General of Police Gopal Sharma, a Joint secretary in the Union Home Ministry and Additional Director General (CID) Kuldeep Khuda as members, held meetings to finalise the list. "The Government has accorded formal sanction to the release of these prisoners and the process of setting them free has also started," a senior official told The Hindu .

All the detenues had been arrested under the Public Safety Act. The process is to be completed by March 31. Sources said that 14 more detenues would be released from the Kotbhalwal jail in the next few days. The High Court has ordered the release of eight persons detained under PSA and directed the Government to release them.

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