As part of its efforts for a broad consensus on solving the Kashmir issue, the Centre’s interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday met a delegation of youth who raised the issue of alleged human rights violations and fake encounter.
The interlocutor team, headed by eminent journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, reached Srinagar on Tuesday afternoon and began the day by meeting a delegation from National Youth Corps.
“This is part of the process that we have started in October which is to meet all shades of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir,” Mr. Padgaonkar told PTI.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said the focus of the interlocutors, who also include academician Radha Kumar and former Central Information Commissioner M.M. Ansari, is to evolve a broad consensus.
“The focus is on trying to evolve a broad consensus on a permanent political settlement or problems out here,” he said.
The group of youth, who met the interlocutors, said they told the delegation about the rise in alleged human rights violations in the valley.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We told them about the rise in human rights violations and also about the recent (alleged) fake encounter in Qamarwari,” one of the youth, who requested not to be named, said.
Another youth said he asked the delegation why hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was refusing to hold talks with them.
“They told us that time will come that he (Geelani) will also talk,” the youth claimed adding they were from National Youth Corps and were currently deputed as volunteers to Lakes and Waterways Development Authority.
Mr. Padgaonkar said there are “lots of people” who will meet the delegation during their current visit before the interlocutors return to New Delhi on December 23.
Official sources said the interlocutors will meet the Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir Bashiruddin Ahmad and Awami National Conference president Khalida Shah.
They are also scheduled to visit a university where they will meet students, the sources said.
Earlier, the interlocutors had visited the state from October 23 from 28 and November 9 to 14.
The Centre appointed the group of interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir on October 13 this year after Kashmir valley witnessed one of its most turbulent summers, which left more than 100 civilians dead and thousands others including security force personnel injured.