Amid unrest, pro-BJP think tank 'India Foundation' is holding a close-door session in Pantitop hill resort of Jammu to discuss the Kashmir situation and find ways to reach out to the separatists. Over 80 intellectuals, RSS office bearers, union ministers and other Sangh Parivar affiliates are attending the conclave which started on Saturday. National general secretary of BJP and India Foundation director Ram Madhav and union minister for textile Smriti Irani attended the meeting.
Sources said Kashmir unrest dominated the session of the think tank with participants deliberating on various facets of the vexed issue in the hill resort. Earlier there were reports that the meet might set the agenda on Kashmir dialogue but the organisers vehemently denied any such move.
"Young Thinkers Meet held at Patnitop is an annual event. Nothing to do with Kashmir issue except that d venue is in d state. No kite flying," tweeted Ram Madhav, who has co-architect of BJP's alliance with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting is being held at a time when Kashmir unrest has entered into second month. More than 55 people have been killed and over 6,000 others injured since the unrest began after the killing of Hizbul Mujahedeen poster boy Burhan Muzaffar Wani on July 8 at Bamdoora village of South Kashmir's Anantnag district. Since July, 3,329 personnel of Jammu and Kashmir Police and central armed police forces have been injured while maintaining law and order in the valley. Of these, many have suffered grievous injuries including multiple fractures. Besides, two personnel of police were killed during the violent protests in the Valley.
"In all 1,018 incidents of violence were reported during this period and 1,030 FIRs stand registered in different police stations of the Valley. Twenty nine installations including police stations, police posts and other government establishments were set ablaze and 51 damaged by the protesters. More than 1,000 accused have been arrested," an official spokesman said.
Unidentified people shot dead a youth when he left home on his motorbike in Pulwama district on Saturday night. Bilal Ahmad's bullet riddled boy was recovered on Sunday triggering intense protests across the south Kashmir district. Premier opposition National Conference said protesters were being shot with intent to kill or maim. Former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Mubarak Gul asked the centre to realize that there was absolutely no alternative to engaging with Pakistan and the Hurriyat Conference leadership as well as all other stakeholders in the Kashmir Valley.
"We have seen a clear operative pattern where protesters, especially the youth, are being shot at with the intent to kill or maim. The government has failed to ban the use of pellet guns and continues with an investment in lethal force to deal with a sentiment that inherently political in nature," said Gul.
