Zero custodial disappearences reported in J

Jammu, Jan 15 (UNI) The year 2007 witnessed zero custodial disappearance in Jammu and Kashmir, a first since the outbreak of militancy in the state in the late 1980s, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said.

''I am glad to inform here that there was zero custodial disappearance reported in 2007,'' Mr Azad said while addressing the Legislative Assembly.

The number of custodial disappearance had once reached 17 in the year 2003.

The situation in the state, the Chief Minister said, has improved a lot in 2007 than the previous year.

Custodial killings were also reduced by 33 per cent as against the previous year, and by 66 per cent against the past 10 years, he informed.

Mr Azad attributed this improvement to the ''zero tolerance'' approach adopted by the government against human rights violations.

''Human right violations in police have almost stopped after the Ganderbal episode,'' he said, asserting that the stern action taken by the government had also resulted in a decrease in such incidents in other forces.

UNI VJ AKJ HS1435