Prime minister may hold all-party meeting on Kashmir

Prime minister Manmohan Singh is likely to hold an all-party meeting to discuss the volatile situation in the violence-hit Kashmir Valley, top government sources said here today.

The sources said the Centre would like to explore all possibilities to tackle the problem in the state and hence it is important to take the views of all parties on the matter.

The unrest in Kashmir had found its echo in Parliament with members expressing concern, prompting the government to acknowledge that the situation has taken a "serious turn".

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah was here earlier this week and had held talks with the prime minister as also the home minister P Chidambaram. A delegation of state leaders also met the prime minister separately yesterday.

Meanwhile, the curfew imposed in all the ten districts of the Valley, which has witnessed a spurt in violence, entered its sixth day today.

Five persons were killed and at least 20 policemen were injured yesterday in violent incidents which have claimed the lives of 28 people since Friday.