Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday arrived in protest-ridden Valley and offered to hold dialogue with stakeholders, even as fresh protests left one youth dead, and over 60, including 17 security men, injured in south Kashmir.
Before arriving in Srinagar, Mr. Singh opened the doors of dialogue by tweeting: “I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat , Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome.”
The Union Home Minister, who is also reviewing security scenario arising in the backdrop of 46-day long street upheaval, is meeting mainstream political parties and civil society groups. This is his second visit since trouble erupted in the Valley on July 9. His previous visit failed to garner significant civil society support to douse the simmering streets.
Mr. Singh has reached the Nehru Guest House and is scheduled to hold meeting with senior officials and the Peoples Democratic Party leadership. His schedule is been kept under wraps by the officials here.
One more civilian killed
Eight major clashes occurred on Wednesday in Pulwama, Budgam, Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts. Amir Ahmad Mir, a Class 10 student, died at a Srinagar hospital after he was hit by pellets at Prichoo in Pulwama.
One civilian died and seven sustained injured in a clampdown of the security forces on an anti-government rally venue in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Wednesday morning.
Injured Amir Ahmad Mir succumbed to injuries in a Srinagar hospital. Security forces allegedly fired bullets and pellets to disperse the protesters in the pre-dawn crackdown at Pirchoo village. The civilian death toll has risen to 68 now.
With the Union Home Minister in town, curfew has been relaxed in large parts of the city, allowing movement of private vehicles. However, curfew and restrictions continue in several towns and villages in south Kashmir's four districts.
