Talks only way to control situation in Valley: Congress

Criticising the recent Budgam encounter, the Congress Party on Wednesday said talks is the only way to control the situation in Kashmir Valley, adding that the BJP-PDP Government is just trying to cover the matter.

"There is no other way to control the situation in Valley rather than talks. The BJP just wants to cover up the matter. This cannot happen. There is unrest in the valley and it is being speculated that India is moving towards a Hindu state," Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar told ANI.

Aiyar said that the way India is moving away from secular politics, the situation is Kashmir is getting worst day by day.

"The BJP-PDP alliance in the Valley doesn't have any moral and is useless. People don't like the government in the state. I am very concerned the way India is leading," he added.

Three stone pelters were killed in retaliatory firing by security forces in Budgam yesterday.

At least 17 stone pelters were injured in the firing by forces.

The security forces had launched a search operation following a tipoff about the presence of terrorists, which then became an encounter.

Meanwhile, railway services will remain suspended throughout Kashmir today in the wake of the volatile situation.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has made a fervent appeal to locals of the valley not to obstruct security forces while they are combat terrorists.