Jammu:
Jammu and Kashmir government announced on Monday that 407 FIRs have been selected for withdrawal under an amnesty policy for stone-pelters announced by the state government last year.
"As per the amnesty (to stone-pelters involved in 2010 summer unrest) announced by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah last year, 407 FIRs have been identified for withdrawal", Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani told reporters here.
Mr Wani, who was countering the allegations levelled by leader of the opposition Mehbooba Mufti that government had announced amnesty to stone-pelters on one side but on the other side are prosecuting them in court, said that "for the withdrawal of FIRs, there is a legal requirement".
The Minister said that "first there is a need to present a challan (case record) in the court as per the legal requirement. It is the process of withdrawal of FIRs (against stone-pelters)".
"Till March 28, when the Chief Minister had made a statement in the House during the grants of his Home Department, 283 FIRs had been challaned (case records presented in courts) under this process for the withdrawal," Mr Wani said.
He said "other cases have also been put on fast trac. We wanted to speed up the process so that those identified get honourable exit in these cases and face no problems in future".