New Delhi, Oct 13 (IANS) The central government Wednesday appointed well known journalist Dilip Padgaonkar, Information Commissioner M.M. Ansari and academician Radha Kumar as the new interlocutors to restart peace talks in Jammu and Kashmir.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram told reporters that "we have appointed the group of interlocutors". "There will be Dilip Padgaonkar, professor M.M. Ansari and professor Radha Kumar."

He said the government "may add" another interlocutor to the team soon, adding the three "have a political persona".

"All of them are well known to the people," he said, adding they would begin the stalled talks with all "shades of opinion" in Jammu and Kashmir "as early as possible".

The move, Chidambaram said, was a "clear demonstration of the seriousness on the part of the government of India" to solve the problems in the state. It comes after over 100 civilians were killed in clashes between protesters and security forces in Kashmir Valley in the last four months.