SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir government is actively considering granting amnesty to the youths booked under cases of unrest in the state, but only if they are willing to shun the path of violence.
The state government is ready to pardon the youths who have been booked in cases of stone-pelting in the state, if they shun violence and live normal lives.
"We are actively considering the plan to grant amnesty to those youths who are not involved in heinous offences. We will not destroy their future and have to take care of them," minister for law,
Abdul Haq Khan
, said in Legislative Council.
He was replying to a question raised by People's Democratic Party (PDP) legislator, Yasir Reshi, in the Upper House.
The minister, however, said the amnesty would not be for youths who were booked in heinous crimes and were habitual offenders.
Khan said the government would consider such cases on merit and all youths booked under such circumstances, both in Kashmir and Jammu divisions, would be given an opportunity to become peace loving citizens and contribute towards the development of the state.
The previous government in the state had also granted general amnesty to 1811 youth in 2011.