Srinagar, Mar 29: Centre-appointed interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma arrived on Thursday at Tral in
south Kashmir district of Pulwama, considered a stronghold of militants, amid
shutdown and unprecedented security arrangement.
The former Intelligence Bureau chief -- who is on his fourth
visit to the Valley after being appointed as an interlocutor for Kashmir on
October 23, 2017 by the Centre to initiate a meaningful dialogue process with
all stakeholders -- on Wednesday met about half-a-dozen delegations in the
summer capital, Srinagar, where he also interacted with Governor N N Vohra.
Official sources told that security forces have been deployed in strength in the entire Pulwama district, particularly in Tral, to prevent any militant attack or protests.
They said the roads leading to Circuit House at Tral have been sealed with barbed wires and by parking police vehicles. “Only people who have valid invitation to meet the interlocutor were being allowed to go towards the Circuit House, to meet Mr Sharma,” they added.
A spontaneous strike was observed against Mr Sharma’s visit to Tral, where shops and business establishment were closed and traffic was off the road.
Media personnel staged protest in the area alleging that they were stopped from covering the visit of the interlocutor, who has in the past also maintained distance from media.
Mr Sharma, who is on a four-day visit to the Valley, on Tuesday, met several delegations, including activists of mainstream political parties, in north Kashmir district of Bandipora.
However, prominent trade bodies and civil society members refused to meet Mr Sharma. The interlocutor met about half-a-dozen delegations at Hari Niwas in Srinagar on Wednesday.
An official spokesperson said Mr Sharma met the Governor at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday and discussed the “security” situation since the beginning of this year and the steps required for maintaining “peace and normalcy”.
During his previous visit to the Valley, Mr Sharma’s main focus has been south Kashmir, which has witnessed major encounters and protests since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in 2016. South Kashmir was the most affected area in the Valley during 2016 unrest that left over 120 civilians dead and thousands others wounded. Two policemen were also killed and about 2000 security force personnel injured during this period.
The interlocutor had during his maiden visit to the Valley in November 2017 said he will try his level best to bring separatists onboard. However, the interlocutor has not been able to make any headway as most of the trade unions and civil society leaders and separatists have stayed away during his previous three visits.
However, Mr Sharma is credited for the amnesty announced by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for the first time to stone pelters in Kashmir in November 2017. The development had come after the Centre advised the Jammu and Kashmir government to withdraw cases against about 4,500 youth, who were first-time offenders or stone-pelters. The advice was given by the Centre on the recommendations of Mr Sharma, who is trying to woo the people to initiate a dialogue process. UNI
Official sources told that security forces have been deployed in strength in the entire Pulwama district, particularly in Tral, to prevent any militant attack or protests.
They said the roads leading to Circuit House at Tral have been sealed with barbed wires and by parking police vehicles. “Only people who have valid invitation to meet the interlocutor were being allowed to go towards the Circuit House, to meet Mr Sharma,” they added.
A spontaneous strike was observed against Mr Sharma’s visit to Tral, where shops and business establishment were closed and traffic was off the road.
Media personnel staged protest in the area alleging that they were stopped from covering the visit of the interlocutor, who has in the past also maintained distance from media.
Mr Sharma, who is on a four-day visit to the Valley, on Tuesday, met several delegations, including activists of mainstream political parties, in north Kashmir district of Bandipora.
However, prominent trade bodies and civil society members refused to meet Mr Sharma. The interlocutor met about half-a-dozen delegations at Hari Niwas in Srinagar on Wednesday.
An official spokesperson said Mr Sharma met the Governor at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday and discussed the “security” situation since the beginning of this year and the steps required for maintaining “peace and normalcy”.
During his previous visit to the Valley, Mr Sharma’s main focus has been south Kashmir, which has witnessed major encounters and protests since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in 2016. South Kashmir was the most affected area in the Valley during 2016 unrest that left over 120 civilians dead and thousands others wounded. Two policemen were also killed and about 2000 security force personnel injured during this period.
The interlocutor had during his maiden visit to the Valley in November 2017 said he will try his level best to bring separatists onboard. However, the interlocutor has not been able to make any headway as most of the trade unions and civil society leaders and separatists have stayed away during his previous three visits.
However, Mr Sharma is credited for the amnesty announced by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for the first time to stone pelters in Kashmir in November 2017. The development had come after the Centre advised the Jammu and Kashmir government to withdraw cases against about 4,500 youth, who were first-time offenders or stone-pelters. The advice was given by the Centre on the recommendations of Mr Sharma, who is trying to woo the people to initiate a dialogue process. UNI
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