The Modi government has made its view clear over the matter of Mehbooba Mufti led Jammu and Kashmir government’s decision to withdraw cases against about 9,730 stone pelters back in February.
To get into the specifics of the Mufti government’s decision, it was reported that these 9,730 stone pelting cases took place between 2008 and 2017. Besides this the government had also decided to give amnesty to about 4000 individuals accused of “minor stone pelting” incidences over the last two years.
As per a Times of India report, the central government has informed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) that the aforementioned decision by the J&K government would demoralise Indian security forces. The Modi government has also claimed that if the cases are withdrawn, the terrorists would be encouraged to use civilians as shields for their attacks.
Further, it also urged the J&K government to take strong action against the stone pelters to safeguard the human rights of the armed forces.
This view by the Modi government was given in response to a NHRC petition filed by three army kids soon after the Mufti government had announced its decision. The petition filed by the kids of two serving and one retired army official had questioned the let-off, by asking why the armed forces did not get the “attention and empathy of the custodians of human rights”.
Thus as young Indians and the children of armed forces they had expressed concern about the security personnel serving in disturbed areas.
Incidentally such a statement by the Modi government comes just days after a jihadi mob had indulged in rampant stone pelting in Srinagar to target CRPF vehicles.
Prior to this a stone pelting mob had attacked a bus in Srinagar resulting in the death of a young tourist. Before that the mobs had decided to shed all inhibitions by attacking a school bus, which resulted in serious injuries to one child.
