Friday, November 4 2005 09:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: A day after asserting that custodial killings would not be tolerated, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad yesterday (Nov 03, 2005) advised security agencies to avoid human rights violations.

"Henceforth, I will not like any custodial killing to take place," he told the first meeting of the Unified Command of security agencies here.

Soon after he took oath as Chief Minister at the head of a 12-member coalition government, Azad had asserted that custodial killings in the state would not be tolerated.

At the meeting, Azad appreciated the role of army during the recent earthquake that battered Kashmir valley, especially in providing immediate relief to victims

The loss of human lives in the quake would have been much more but for timely rescue operations launched by the army in the ravaged areas, he said.

During the past several years, army had succeeded in creating goodwill among people who helped in establishment of cordial and peaceful situation in the valley, Azad said.

The people-friendly role of the army was even appreciated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said.

"Time has come to take coordinated, concrete and determined steps for welfare of people of the state and to work for rebuilding a Khushal (happy) Kashmir free from violence and disturbances," Azad said.

The meeting was informed that the level of militant violence in the state had come down compared to the past and people were now openly coming against the cult of violence.

The Chief Minister yesterday attended office in the Civil Secretariat and took note of several issues brought to his notice by Ministers and officials.