JK interlocutors visit kin of slain sisters, youth

The three-member panel of interlocutors on Kashmir met the families of the two sisters killed by terrorists in north Kashmir's Sopore town and a youth killed in an army ambush in Chogal village in Handwara town on Thursday.

Senior journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, academician Radha Kumar and former bureaucrat MM Ansari first paid a visit to the parents of the two girls who had been killed by unknown gunmen in the town on January 31. The  of the slain girls, according to sources, demanded action against those responsible for the murder of their daughters.

Later, the interlocutors also visited the Chogal village and met the family of the 24-year Manzoor Ahmad Magray.

Involve separatists, Pakistan in talks: PDP

The interlocutors also held detailed discussions with Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba on the prevailing situation in the state. "Involvement of Pakistan in Kashmir talks is a must because without involving the neighbouring country the dialogue process would be meaningless," she said.

"Separatists must also be engaged in the dialogue process and their views should be addressed. Their engagement in the dialogue process is must to take it to its logical end," she added and further cautioned that any unilateral roadmap would fail to reach a lasting resolution.

Mufti said that keeping in view the complexity and diversity of the state, there was a need to involve all sections, regions and sub-regions in the dialogue process to arrive at an acceptable and workable solution.

Padgaonkar said that the interlocutors had written to Kashmiri separatist leaders inviting them to hold a dialogue, but there had been no response so far. "We are still waiting for their response," he said.