Pulwama,
The Central government’s special representative to Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma, visited the volatile Pulwama district on Sunday where he reached out to youth booked for stone-throwing in the restive south Kashmir.

According to sources, a 100-strong group of youth booked for stone-throwing met Sharma and apprised him of the “ground realities”. “We apprised him of the ground realities and the problems we have been facing,” a member of the delegation told The Tribune on condition of anonymity.

The delegation member said Sharma listened to them and promised that their cases would be looked into and dealt with accordingly.

Sharma’s meeting with the youth, which comes amidst amnesty offered to first-time offenders, is being seen as a significant development vis-à-vis his public outreach.

The visit to Pulwama district, which is the epicentre of new-generation militancy and one of the most volatile districts of south Kashmir, was the first stop in Sharma’s second visit to Kashmir.

The choice of Sharma’s first stop in Kashmir assumes importance as it has sent a strong message that he intends to talk and walk difficult choices. Sharma was appointed as New Delhi’s special representative for initiating sustained dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir.

On his second tour of the state, Sharma is scheduled to visit south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday.

His Pulwama visit unfolded amid unprecedented security measures as Sharma arrived at Government Circuit House in the district, where about a dozen delegations from different walks awaited him.

The delegations which met Sharma comprised students, unemployed youth, Gujjar-Bakerwal youth, saffron growers of Pampore town, and members of the Youth National Conference, Handicrafts Pulwama, Kakapora Development Society, Department of Horticulture (Litter Zone), and Civil Society, Pulwama.