Azad rejects Mufti's demand for troop cut in JK

Srinagar, May 26: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today rejected outright his predecessor Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's demand for troop withdrawal from the strife-torn state, saying the level of violence has gone up significantly in the recent past and also that he does not want to give a ''free area'' to militants.

Addressing a crowded news conference here, he gave figures to substantiate his viewpoint on the troop cut issue.

During the past two-three months in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Azad said about 110 civilians and 146 militants have been killed while there were around 370 incidents of violence across the state.

''When Mr Sayeed raised the troop reduction issue in January this year, the situation in the state was fast improving. But since then, the level of violence has increased significantly and all of a sudden. Infiltration has also gone up,'' he added.

The Chief Minister said he does not want to repeat the situation that had emerged in 2000 following the announcement of ceasefire and its subsequent withdrawal by the Hizbul Mujahideen and the unilateral truce by the Centre.

The militants used the ceasefire period in regrouping and strengthening their base to launch a series of terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Azad added.

''There were terror attacks on the state Assembly and Parliament.

I do not want to repeat the situation of 2000. I also do not want a situation where militants are given free area to operate by withdrawing the troops first and then calling them back three times more in number to control the increased violence,'' Mr Azad said.

He said everybody would like the Army to withdraw to its barracks and guard the borders, ''Even the Army itself would like that. But, we have to see the situation in its totality,'' Mr Azad added.

UNI