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Improvement in Kashmir situation, all parties will be taken into confidence: Rajnath

Meanwhile, Army chief reviewed the security situation, especially in four worst-affected districts in south Kashmir.

Panaji/Srinagar: Asserting that Government will take into confidence all parties while taking steps to bring peace and normalcy in Kashmir, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said it is "very difficult" for people to bear unrest for long.

"The government on its own is working on improving the situation there (Kashmir). The discussions are held with the people. After the all-party delegation meeting, there has been a perceptional change," Singh told reporters here after commissioning off-shore patrol vessel ICG Sarathi.

The Minister said that the government was working on the recommendations made by the all-party delegation that travelled to the state recently. "The all-party delegation went there (J&K) to review...our efforts will be to take all parties in confidence while taking a step. We are working on it," he said.

"People in Kashmir have realised that it is difficult to bear such a long span of unrest. People are feeling that peace and normalcy should be restored," he said.

"In future also, we will be trying that all parties are taken into confidence (on Kashmir)," he said.

The minister said that "there is improvement in the situation in Kashmir" and the Centre was assisting efforts to provide employment and bring development in the state. "Things are much in control compared to the past. In coming days, the situation in Kashmir would be completely under control," he said.

In order to provide job opportunities to the youths in the state, the central government has ordered for recruitment of 10,000 Special Police Officers (SPOs) in the state, he said.

"Development work is going on. Central government has also funded for all the development works," he said.

Responding to a question on cross-border infiltration, the Home Minister said, "Infiltration has been happening in past, but it was less in 2015."

"There is increase in 2016 as far as infiltration is concerned but at the same time our army and paramilitary forces have managed to eliminate the terrorists," he said.

Meanwhile, Army chief General Dalbir Singh reviewed the security situation in the unrest-hit Valley, especially in the four worst-affected districts in south Kashmir.

Gen Singh arrived here this morning and was briefed about the prevailing situation in the Valley by General Officer Commanding of Chinar Corps Lt Gen Satish Dua, defence sources said.

The sources said the army chief visited defence formations in the north and south of the Valley to get first hand account of the situation from the officers on the ground. "The army chief was informed about the steps to be taken to help the civil administration restore normalcy, particularly in south Kashmir," the sources said.

Gen Singh also visited forward locations along the Line of Control in Kupwara district to review the preparedness of the anti-infiltration grid, they said.

He will call on Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra later before heading back to Delhi.

Meanwhile, the Central Reserve Police Force said three of its personnel were injured in 19 incidents of stone pelting since yesterday. "3 CRPF personnel injured & 1 CRPF vehicle damaged in 19 incidents of stone pelting involving the Force in Kashmir Valley in the past 24 hrs," a tweet by the paramilitary force said.

Another tweet yesterday had said: "17 CRPF personnel injured and 11 vehicles damaged in 21 incidents of stone pelting involving CRPF in the Kashmir Valley in the past 24 hrs."

Normal life remained paralysed for 63rd consecutive day in the unrest-hit Valley where 73 persons have been killed and several thousand others injured in the violence which erupted after Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani was gunned down by security forces.

( Source : PTI )
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