Srinagar: The Government of India’s (GoI) special representative to J&K Dineshwar Sharma on Thursday visited Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district as part of his two-day visit to the State. He met a number of delegations, reportedly arranged by Peoples Conference, an ally of BJP in J&K.
Sharma — a former head of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) —was last year appointed by Centre to start a multilayered, sustained dialogue to address the Kashmir problem.
Sharma reached Handwara district in the afternoon. According to local authorities, he met around 20 delegations, including many youth groups, at Environmental Hall Handwara.
A delegation led by a political youth leader Mudasir Tantray said he raised many issues related to youth and resolution of Kashmir issue with the interlocutor.
“I apprised the interlocutor with the day to day and growing harassment, ransacking and beating of families of youth mostly militants. I also told the interlocutor why there is unabated ransacking of houses properties and damaging of orchards in Kashmir. Such issues alienate the youth of Valley,” Mudasir said.
The youth leader said he sought immediate stop to the “growing human rights violations” in Kashmir, and apprised the interlocutor that the first party in the Kashmir dispute is the people of Kashmir and the second party is Pakistan and the militant leadership.
“Once New Delhi understands and takes due care of the human rights of common masses only then can the steps be taken to resolve the vexed Kashmir issue,” Mudasir said.
Meanwhile, sources said that most of the delegations which met the interlocutor were arranged by the Peoples Conference (PC) headed by Sajad Lone.
The delegations, according to sources, only raised the developmental issues, skill development and drainage problems. (GNS)
