Dineshwar Sharma, ex-IB chief appointed Centre's representative on Kashmir

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday announced that former Director IB Dineshwar Sharma was handpicked by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to hold a dialogue with stakeholders in strife-torn of Jammu and Kashmir.

Singh told reporters that a sustained dialogue will be initiated with all shades of opinion in Kashmir Valley.

Sharma, a 1976 batch Kerala cadre IPS officer, retired as director of the IB on December 31, 2016.

He will hold the the position of a Cabinet Secretary. However, on talks with separatists, Rajnath said the interlocutor will be free to decide whom to talk to.