Curfew relaxed in Kashmir
Srinagar : Curfew has been relaxed for some hours in the Kashmir Valley, including the capital Srinagar, a day after Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah pledged to de-escalate the tension in the protest-racked state and the Centre announced to appoint interlocutors for a sustained dialogue.
Besides the capital, curfew was lifted for some hours in South Kashmir’s Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Awantipora and Handwara in north Kashmir.
Reports said curfew was relaxed for four hours or more in parts of Srinagar.
The Centre on Saturday announced of appointing a group of interlocutors on Kashmir to initiate sustained dialogue with all groups and people of the Valley.
?Government of India will appoint a group of interlocutors under an eminent person to begin the process of a sustained dialogue including political groups, youth bodies as well,? Union Home minister P Chidambaram said after a special meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to discuss the recommendations of the all-party delegation that visited J&K earlier this week.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday expressed his conviction to de-escalate tension in the disturbed areas and work in harmony with the Centre to find a solution to the Kashmir problem.
?The Jammu and Kashmir government will take gradual steps to de-escalate tension in the disturbed areas. I will hold a meeting of the unified command later this week in which we will discuss the modalities of reducing the footprints of security forces in cities, particularly the areas that have been designated as disturbed areas,?? the chief minister told NDTV.
Chidambaram also informed that the Centre will ask the state government to release all students detained for stone-pelting and protests and also withdraw all charges against them.
?Schools and colleges will be reopened and all detained students will be released,? he said, adding, ?Rs 100 crore additional Central assistance will be given for educational grants for schools.?
