JSC clears release of 24 detainees in J&K

The Joint Screening Committee of the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir state government on Thursday recommended the release of 24 political prisoners and militants in the state, official sources in Jammu said.

The JSC, which met for the second consecutive day to consider the release of 167 detainees short-listed for release, discussed 52 cases, 33 militants and 17 political prisoners, the sources said.

Of the 52, 24 names have been cleared for release.

The meeting, chaired by Jammu and Kashmir Home Commissioner S D Singh was also attended by others members of the Committee -- Director General of Police A K Suri, Additional Director General of Police (CID-Intelligence) Kuldeep Khuda, Director General (Prisons) S S Ali, Joint Secretary in Union Ministry of Home Affaris and Centre's representative Rakesh Hooja.