Omar appeals for calm

With Kashmir valley facing fresh unrest, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tonight appealed for peace and also vowed not to allow perpetrators of violence "to win".

With Kashmir valley facing fresh unrest, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday night appealed for peace and also vowed not to allow perpetrators of violence "to win".

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Asking people to cooperate with him to help restore calm in the state, the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said he was willing to take "10 steps" forward and appealed to them to take at least "one step" and help create a situation conducive to end the cycle of violence.

"There are people in the valley who want the cycle of deaths and killings to continue...I don't' want them to win. I want your cooperation to defeat these elements who are using the blood of the youth for their political interests," Omar told DD Kasheer in a broadcast.

He appealed to all parties including the separatists to put behind divisive politics and end the plight of the people facing hardships due to recurring violence.

"People who are misguiding you are happy with the present situation because they earn out of the unrest as well," he said.

Omar said he had made several appeals for sustaining dialogue between India and Pakistan but that process will take time.

He appealed to the religious heads and elders in the families to follow the curfew orders and not leave their houses.

"Curfew restrictions have to be respected and people should not indulge in senseless violence. I don't want CRPF or other police forces to fire teargas shell but if police and government offices are attacked action will have to be taken," he added.

Acknowledging there was anger among the youth, he said, "I know the youth of the valley is angry...it sees no hope...no light in this darkness. I want to lead them...show them light but only if my government gets a chance to work."

Government will soon start a massive recruitment drive on which we will go or talent hunt, he said.