Interlocutors welcome JK Govt's amnesty to stone pelters

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Centre's interlocutors today welcomed Jammu and Kashmir government's initiatives including general amnesty to stone pelters and transfer of powers to panchayats saying these were important confidence building measures (CBMs) for carrying forward the peace process.

"The Group of Interlocutors on J-K welcome the state government's initiatives...to release some political prisoners, declare a general amnesty to 'stone throwers' and transfer of the first instalment of various powers to the newly-elected panchayats," the interlocutors said in a joint statement.

They also welcomed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's announcement that the government will take 'appropriate action' on the final recommendations of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) related to the unidentified bodies buried in unmarked graves in Kashmir.

"Announced on the eve of Eid, these steps, much like the ones taken to facilitate hassle-free movement of people and goods across the Line of Control, are important CBMs that will carry forward the peace process," the interlocutors said.

The team noted with satisfaction that the steps announced by the state government were in tune with the letter and spirit of the recommendations made by them in their reports submitted to the government over the past ten months.

"The Group urges the Chief Minister to persist on this path with redoubled vigour in order to create an atmosphere of harmony and reconciliation among all the people of the state after more than two decades of unmitigated suffering," the statement said.

"Such an atmosphere alone will be conducive to seek a permanent, political settlement in J & K in cooperation with all stake-holders who have renounced the use of violence and intimidation to attain their goals," it said.

Kashmir was rocked for months last summer by clashes between stone-throwing demonstrators and police and paramilitary troops, who used live fire to try to control massive rallies against New Delhi's rule over the region.

About 110 protesters died in the violence, most of them young males hit by gunfire from security forces.