Sharma’s 4day visit to Jammu starts today
Centre’s special representative will visit only Jammu region this time; likely to meet governor and CM
JAMMU : Central government's special representative to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Dineshwar Sharma will arrive in Jammu on Monday for a four-day visit to the state.
The fourth trip of the former intelligence bureau chief will remain confined to the Jammu region, where Sharma will tour areas along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LOC), which in the recent past has been witnessing major escalations since the beginning of the new year.
Sharma has gained credibility, as his proposal to grant amnesty to stone pelters was okayed by the home ministry on his recommendation.
Acting on the home ministry’s recommendation, the Mehbooba Mufti led J&K government granted amnesty to as many as 10,000 offenders, including those involved in the 2016 unrest in the Kashmir valley.
As per sources, soon after his arrival in Jammu on Monday morning, Sharma will visit areas along the IB in RS Pura, Miran Sahib and Samba. Here, Sharma will listen to the plight of border population, worst affected by the cross-border shelling from Pakistan.
Thousands displaced along the border areas in Jammu region are living in relief camps, set up for them at different locations.
Recently, for the safety of people living within three kilometers along the LOC and International Border in the Jammu region, the Centre has sanctioned ₹415 crore for construction of 14,460 bunkers.
On Tuesday, Sharma will visit Poonch and will meet delegations there including border-firing victims.
He will visit Rajouri on Wednesday and later, Nowhsera which is worst affected by Pakistani firing. Sharma will meet senior officers of the administration as well the police in both districts.
Before wrapping up his trip, Sharma is likely to meet chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and governor NN Vohra in Jammu.
Heavy shelling and firing by the Pakistani troops since January 17, on Indian posts and civilian areas along both the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu, have taken lives of 14 persons, including two BSF personnel, eight army soldiers and eight civilians.
During his last visit, Dineshwar Sharma visited the Kashmir valley and returned to Delhi on January 24.
SHARMA WILL TOUR AREAS ALONG THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER AND LINE OF CONTROL, WHICH HAS BEEN WITNESSING MAJOR ESCALATIONS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF YEAR