Protesting farmers demand end to arrest spree
Srinagar: Farmers from Kashmir Valley who assembled here at Press Enclave Srinagar to protest against anti-framers policies being pursued by Government denounced the arrest spree in South Kashmir villages.
The farmers who staged protest under the banner of J&K Kisan Tehreek were carrying placards seeking immediate halt to random arrests and nocturnal raids.
“How can we concentrate on farming when our children are being dragged out from their rooms and put in lock up,” they said.
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The protesting farmers appealed government to stop nocturnal raids and arresting youth particularly students in rural areas.
The Kashmir valley has a lone juvenile home at Harwan Srinagar that was established in 2011, looked after by the Social Welfare Department. “It has received over 1,100 juveniles in the last six years,” an official of the Social Welfare Department, said. The official said that Harwan juvenile home remains “overcrowded”.
“It does not have adequate space to accommodate increasing number of juveniles,” the official said.
According to the Juvenile Justice Act 2013, the government is to comply with the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2013, and Rules of 2014 made under the Act, which include setting up of the Juvenile Justice Boards.
(With inputs from CNS)
