Various parts of the Kashmir Valley have been under curfew for the past 46 days after violent protests erupted following the killing of Wani and led to the death of 68 civilians in clashes with security forces.
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Singh said an expert committee set up by the Home Minister and mandated to look for an alternative to pellet guns is expected to give its report in two-three days.
Mufti said that all those who met him during his two-day visit were keen for a return to peace and normalcy.
The incident happened an hour after Home Minister Rajnath Singh reached Srinagar to talks with various stakeholders in Kashmir and invited all those who believe in “Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat”.
“J&K government, Government of India and all parties in India should focus on the 95% of the population who want to resolve Kashmir issue peacefully through dialogue”.
Singh said that he spoke to delegations from almost every political party and had seen nearly 300 people since the previous day.
“Five percent people in Kashmir use children as shields and attack camps of security forces”, she also said, stressing on the fact that action needs to be taken against them.
Union home minister Rajnath Singh arrived here on Wednesday with an open invitation to all Kashmiris for talks.
Among them is a youth who was killed in fresh clashes in Pulwama today. “I appeal to one and all in Kashmir not to play with the future of our youth”, he said at the conference, adding that young boys who should have computers, pens and books in their hands are holding stones instead. “Pain is not being felt in Kashmir only, but everywhere in India”, he said. She also elaborated on her earlier comments that only five per cent people of Kashmir are agitating. She added that the 5% people are trying to “highjack” the state and they are misleading youths to continue the unrest.
Mufti claimed in 2010 there was reason for unrest – from the Machil fake encounter to the allegations of rape in Shopian.
She said, “People have come onto the roads”.
“Had a kid who attacked an Army camp gone there to buy a toffee?”
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Replying to a question on central government’s understanding of the prevailing situation in Kashmir, the Home Minister said, “Do not question our understanding of the situation”. Mehbooba was visibly disappointed in the press conference and said that the killings have extremely pained her. But the minister promised he will keep coming back to the valley to hear what the Kashmiris want to say. They have to be identified and deal with them as per the law. “They push them into the fire by sending them to attack security establishments”, she said, while stressing that she stands for peaceful resolution of the problem.
