Kulgam, Feb 23 (UNI) Amid heightened security, Centre-appointed interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma on Friday conferred with a number of delegations, including sports persons and civil society members, in this south Kashmir district flashpoint.
The former Intelligence Bureau chief -- who is on his fourth visit to the Valley after being appointed as an interlocutor for Kashmir on October 23, 2017-- on Thursday met many delegations in south Kashmir district of Shopian, where several civilians were killed in security force firing last month.

Media personnel staged a protest outside DC Kulgam’s office alleging that they were stopped from covering the visit of the interlocutor, who has in the past also maintained distance from the Fourth Estate.
Official sources told UNI that security forces had been deployed in strength in the entire Kulgam district, particularly the main town, to prevent any militant attack or protests.

They said the roads leading to DC office Kulgam have been sealed with barbed wires and by parking police vehicles.
Media persons, including journalists and photo-journalists representing local and national media organisations, were stopped at the main gate of the DC office and barred from entering the premises. 'We were on Thursday asked by the DC to cover the event on Friday. But later in the evening yesterday, the DC issued another order barring media from covering the event,' according to the journalists.
On Thursday, Mr Sharma met 19 delegations, including Gujjars, Transporters and sports personnel, who complained of lack of sports infrastructure and facilities for budding players in south Kashmir.
During the second leg of his visit to the Valley, Mr Sharma’s main focus was on south Kashmir, which has witnessed major encounters and protests since the 2016 neutralisation of top Hizbul Mujahideen ultra Burhan Wani. South Kashmir was the hotbed during the unrest in the Valley.

During his first visit to the valley in November 2017, the interlocutor had said that he would try his level best to bring separatists on board but seems to have made no headway.

However, Mr Sharma is credited for the amnesty announced in November 2017 by Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to first time stone pelters. The development had come after the Centre advised the state government to withdraw cases against about 4,500 youth, who were first-time offenders or stone-pelters. The advice was stated to have been given by the Centre on the recommendations of Mr Sharma.
UNI ABS RP1555