PULWAMA: Centre-appointed interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma arrived in south Kashmir district of Pulwama on Sunday, where he is expected to meet delegations, amid tight security.
This is Mr Sharma’s second visit to the Valley after being appointed as an interlocutor for Kashmir by the Centre to initiate a meaningful dialogue process with all stakeholders.
Mr Sharma on a second visit to Jammu and Kashmir met a number of delegations besides Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti at winter capital, Jammu during the past two days.
Official sources said that security forces have been deployed in strength in the entire Pulwama district, particularly the main town, to prevent any militant attack or protests.
They said the roads leading to Deputy Commissioner’s office and Circuit House have been sealed with barbed wires and by parking police vehicles. “Only people who have valid passes to meet the interlocutor were being allowed to go towards the Circuit House, to meet Mr Sharma,” they added.
They said south Kashmir, which witnessed major encounters and protests, will be the focus of Mr Sharma during the second leg of his visit to the Valley. South Kashmir was the most affected area in the Valley during 2016 unrest after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces.
Mr Sharam, who is a former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief, during his second visit to the state has spend two days in Jammu, where he met about 30 delegations.
The interlocutor had during his maiden visit to the valley early this month said that he will try his level best to bring separatists onboard. However, the interlocutor could not make any headway as most of the trade unions and civil society leaders and separatists stayed away.
However, days before his second visit to the valley, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti announced withdrawal of cases against first-time stone-pelters or offenders in the Kashmir valley.
The development had come after the Centre advised the Jammu and Kashmir government to withdraw cases against about 4,500 youth, who are 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. (AGENCIES)
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