New Delhi: The Government has decided to withdraw cases against four top Hurriyat Conference (HC) associates booked under Prevention of Terrorism act (POTA) and Indian Penal Code (IPC) as part of its peace moves in Jammu and Kashmir.

The decision was taken by the Centre in consultation with the State Government after Hurriyat Conference raised the issue of release of Shabir Dar, Ghulam Mohiuddin alias Raja Haider, G M Sheikh and Saifuddin Bhat in their meetings with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on January 22 and March 27, official sources said.

Government has taken the move under Section 321 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which provides for withdrawal of case in the national interest, the sources said.

A request in this regard has been moved to Lt Governor of Delhi Vijai Kapoor who would order withdrawal of the cases against the four, who were arrested in the national capital last year. The application for the same would be moved by the prosecution department soon.

The sources said during the last meeting with the Hurriyat leadership, former amalgam chairman Abdul Gani Bhat had requested for release of the four after which the Government formulated the proposal and sent it to the Union Law Ministry.

While Dar and Mohiuddin have been booked under POTA for aiding and abetting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, Sheikh and Bhat have been charged under Section 121 of IPC (waging war against the country).