Interlocutors for dialogue with Kashmiris

The Centre has decided to appoint a group of interlocutors to start a “sustained dialogue” with various sections of society in Jammu and Kashmir in a bid to find a solution to stone-throwing crisis currently under way in the valley. The group will be headed by an eminent person and will have at least two more members.

The Cabinet Committee on Security, which took this decision during a meeting in New Delhi on Saturday, also announced an eight-point package based on the recommendations of an all-party delegation that toured the state recently.

In a bid to find the “elusive opening” to start a dialogue and break the cycle of violence in Kashmir, the Centre has asked the state government to immediately release all students and youth detained or arrested for pelting stones or for similar violations.

“The Centre will advice the Omar Abdullah government to review the cases of all those detained under the Public Safety Act and withdraw the detention orders in appropriate cases,” Union home minister P Chidamabram said.

Significantly, on the much debated topic of removing and/or diluting the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the Centre has tossed the ball in the court of the state government and the security agencies. The state government has been asked to convene a meeting of the Unified Command to review the notification of areas marked as ‘disturbed areas’ under the Disturbed Areas Act, where the AFSPA is applicable.

“The issue of AFSPA will be considered only in the light of views expressed by the Unified Command,” Chidambaram added. The Unified Command has also been tasked to review the deployment of security forces in the Kashmir Valley, particluarly in Srinagar.

Seeking to assuage the feelings of the people, the Centre has also asked the state government to grant ex gratia relief of Rs5 lakh per person killed to the families of the deceased in the civil disturbances since June 11 last.

The Centre also focussed on Jammu and Ladakh, neighbouring regions of the state who complain of neglect. A special task force would be appointed for each region to identify the deficiency in infrastructure and make suitable recommendations.

The state government has also been asked to ensure immediately opening of the educational institutions and the holding of special classes so that examinations for the current academic session could be conducted.

The Centre has decided to provide Rs100 crore as additional central assistance to J&K for improving infrastructure in schools and colleges.