New Delhi: The Centre on Monday urged a sensitive handling of the violence in Kashmir while Home Minister Rajnath Singh reached out to the Opposition leaders including Sonia Gandhi to build a political consensus.
Sources said security forces and central para military forces were asked to exercise restraint and use minimum force against those protesting the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani. Attempts were also made to reach out to umemployed young men and teenagers who were earlier found involved in stone-pelting.
The state government also tried to contact parents asking them tio convince their children not to take part in the protests for the third day.
In telephone conversations with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, Rajnath discussed efforts being taken to bring back peace and normalcy in the Valley.
HM @rajnathsingh ji spoke to me earlier today. I told him that until security forces exercise maximum restraint & stop killing protestors...— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) July 11, 2016
The Home Minister's discussions with Gandhi and Omar, who ruled Jammu and Kashmir between 2009 and 2015, are believed to be an attempt by the central government to take opposition leaders into confidence.
Meanwhile, the separatists have extended the strike issued till Monday to July 13 expressing anguish over the killing of civilians in the past three days.
In a joint statement, chairman hurriyat (g), syed ali geelani, chairman hurriyat (m), mirwaiz molvi umar farooq and jammu and kashmir liberation front (jklf), muhammad yasin malik gave a call to extend the strike till Wednesday.
Earlier, Sonia Gandhi had said that there can be no compromise on matters relating to national security even as she voiced anguish over the loss of lives.
On Saturday, Omar had extended his support to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Twitter and said his party was ready to contribute towards maintaining peace and urged her to take the lead in showing the way.
According to sources, Singh is also speaking to other opposition leaders on the Kashmir situation.
The Home minister has already spoken at least twice to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and assured her assistance to tackle the protests that have claimed at least 23 lives.
Normal life remained paralysed for the third day and mobile internet remained suspended as curfew-like restrictions continued in many parts of the Valley.
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