Rajnath Singh meets Mehbooba Mufti, says those misleading youth need to be identified

Singh said that an alternative would be found to pellet guns soon

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti here and said that the elements which were misleading the youth of Kashmir needed to be identified.

Chief Minister Mufti asserted that only five per cent of Kashmiris were engaged in the agitation. 

Singh, who is on a two-day visit to the state in the wake of violent protests triggered after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8, took stock of the security situation in the Valley.

Addressing the media in a joint conference with Mehbooba Mufti, the home minister also said that an alternative would be found to pellet guns soon and that a committee was looking into the matter.

"We are willing to hold a dialogue with anyone who believes in Kashmir's pluralist ethos, humanity, and democracy," said Singh.

He added that the Centre would appoint a Nodal officer to help Kashmiris in distress living anywhere in the country.

Responding to a question at the conference, Mufti said: "There were reasons behind the protests in 2010, there was a fake encounter in which civilians were killed, there was the Shopian rape case. People had a reason in 2010. This time, militants were killed by the security forces in an encounter. Today, most of the people who have died or been injured are children and belong to poor families. Most of the casualties took place during retaliatory fire by security forces. Do not compare then and now."   

Singh also told reporters that the government would send an all-party delegation to the state soon. Further, he asked the people of Kashmir to remember the contribution of the armed forces during the recent floods. 

Earlier in the day, the home minister also met members of civil society who apprised him about the situation in the state. They also told him about the difficulties faced by the common citizen in the wake of protests and curfew.

This is Singh's second visit in a month to the state.

The home minister's visit is an effort by the central government to restore normalcy in the Valley, which has been reeling under curfew and restrictions since trouble started.