Police patrol a deserted street near in Lal Chowk during a curfew in Srinagar. Thousands of police and paramilitary forces enforced a strict curfew in towns across Kashmir, a day after three protesters were killed.
The all-party meeting convened by J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday to find a way out of the crisis in the Valley called for an enquiry into the killing of 15 civilians in firing by security forces over the past month.
This was stated in a resolution adopted by 10 of 11
national and regional parties at the four-hour-long discussions. The BJP, however, opposed the resolution, saying such a move would demoralise the forces.
The main Opposition, People's Democratic Party, boycotted the meeting with party chief Mehbooba Mufti saying the effort would be futile as the National Conference government had lost credibility.
"The meeting, except the BJP, urged the state government to have an inquiry conducted to ascertain the circumstance leading to the deaths," Omar read from the resolution.
"The meeting also urged the Government of India to strengthen the ongoing peace process through internal and external dialogue."
The past month had seen the Valley's peace shattered by daily clashes between stone-pelting protesters and the CRPF and police.
The government had imposed curfew in Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla on July 6 and called in the army the next day. Curfew was finally lifted on July 9.
In Delhi, the Congress indicated it was not in favour of any change of guard in the state.
"The situation is tough and will be tackled carefully. The Congress fully backs the Omar Abdullah government in its efforts to bring normalcy there," party general secretary in charge of J&K Prithviraj Chavan said.
(With HT Correspondent, Delhi)