Centre asks states not to target residents of J

New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) The Centre today asked all statesand Union territories not to target people from Jammu andKashmir for police reporting for merely being residents of thestate, an issue that was vociferously raised by Chief MinisterOmar Abdullah.

The views of the Chief Minister were reflected by thethree interlocutors appointed by the Centre for finding alasting solution to the Kashmir issue.

In an advisory to all states and UTs, the Ministry ofHome Affairs asked them to exercise utmost sensitivity whilemaking inquiries about residents of Jammu and Kashmir livingin different parts of the country.

"It has also asked the states to issue appropriateinstructions to all police stations that they (Kashmiris)should not be singled out unnecessarily for police reportingmerely on grounds of their being original Kashmiri residents,"a statement issued by the Ministry said.

It asked the states and Union territories to report toit the action taken in such cases.

The interlocutors visiting the state had receivedrepresentations from the common people and various stakeholdergroups that Kashmiri boys and girls were singled out by thepolice in states outside J&K and asked to report to policestations merely on account of the fact that they belong toKashmir.

"This kind of treatment affects the sensibility of theresidents of state and they experience a sense of humiliationleading to feeling of alienation and injustice. The IndianConstitution and the law of the land does not permitdiscrimination on account of race, religion, caste and creed,"it said.

The advisory comes close on the heels of Mumbai Policeissuing unsigned notice to its police stations asking them tokeep a close watch on Kashmiri people.

The J&K Chief Minister had raised the issue with theUnion Home Ministry on several occasions and had also saidthat this was insulting for the residents of his state.

He had also assured 24x7 assistance from the statepolice if there was any query from other states and UnionTerritories.