Interlocutors welcome JK Govt's amnesty to stone pelters

New Delhi, Aug 29 (PTI) Centre's interlocutors on Monday
welcomed Jammu and Kashmir government's initiatives including
general amnesty to stone pelters and transfer of powers to
panchayats saying these were important confidence building
measures (CBMs) for carrying forward the peace process.
"The Group of Interlocutors on J-K welcome the state
government's initiatives...to release some political
prisoners, declare a general amnesty to 'stone throwers' and
transfer of the first instalment of various powers to the
newly-elected panchayats," the interlocutors said in a joint
statement.
They also welcomed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's
announcement that the government will take 'appropriate
action' on the final recommendations of the State Human Rights
Commission (SHRC) related to the unidentified bodies buried in
unmarked graves in Kashmir.
"Announced on the eve of Eid, these steps, much like the
ones taken to facilitate hassle-free movement of people and
goods across the Line of Control, are important CBMs that will
carry forward the peace process," the interlocutors said.
The team noted with satisfaction that the steps announced
by the state government were in tune with the letter and
spirit of the recommendations made by them in their reports
submitted to the government over the past ten months.
"The Group urges the Chief Minister to persist on this
path with redoubled vigour in order to create an atmosphere of
harmony and reconciliation among all the people of the state
" the statement said.
"Such an atmosphere alone will be conducive to seek a
permanent, political settlement in J & K in cooperation with
all stake-holders who have renounced the use of violence and
intimidation to attain their goals," it said.