Month after 3 civilians were killed, J&K interlocutor to visit Shopian

Dineshwar Sharma, the Centre's interlocutor would be visiting Shopian in Jammu and Kashmir. The visit is important and comes a month after three civilians were killed after the Indian Army opened fire at stone pelters in defence.

While the Army has clearly said that it fired as a last option, the Centre feels that the locals' side of the story too must be heard. Home Ministry sources said that all are welcome to meet with Sharma.

The Jammu and Kashmir police had registered an FIR against Major Aditya Kumar and other following the incident. The father of the Major had then moved the Supreme Court challenging the FIR, following which the same had stayed.

Following reports of growing anger on the Shopian incident, the Centre decided to send Sharma and speak with the locals. Sharma would interact with the locals while hearing their side of the story and then report to the government, Home Ministry officials also said.

The Army, however, made it clear that it fired only in self-defence. It was a last resort as some of the stone pelters almost killed one of our men, the Army also said, while defending the action it took.

OneIndia News