Wednesday, February 22 2006 13:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's first 100 days in office has seen a dip in militancy-related incidents and instances of human rights violation in Jammu and Kashmir, according to official figures.

"The security situation has bettered in the state with 318 militancy-related incidents in 100 days of Ghulam Nabi Azad as Chief Minister as compared to 407 during the first 100 days of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed," senior officials said here.

They said 123 people including 79 militants, 29 civilians and 15 security personnel were killed in Azad's first three months as Chief Minister while in the 100 days from November 3, 2002, when the Mufti took over, 132 people that included 61 militants 42 civilians and 30 security personnel were killed.

The 100 days preceding Azad's takeover, saw 439 militancy-related incidents in which 57 militants, 32 security personnel and 54 civilians were killed, they said.

Besides a decline in militancy, 57 militants laid down arms before security forces and police while only 4 charges of alleged human rights violation were levelled against security forces during the period as against 21 during the previous regime, they added.

"Strict instructions have been issued to security agencies involved in anti-militancy operations not to indulge in human rights violation, custodial killings and deliberate damage of property by setting houses on fire and using civilians as human shields in the state," Azad had said in his speech to the Assembly and added that militancy would be dealt with an iron hand.