SRINAGAR : Ghulam Nabi Azad will be completing one year as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. But it has not been smooth sailing, notwithstanding the number of positive measures he initiated in his home State.

Mr. Azad claims there has been a decline in violence in the last one year. But his detractors say no discernible decrease in militant activities is seen. He cites the fewer custodial deaths as proof of an ``improved record on the human rights front.'' However, the latest incident in Pakharpora, in central district of Budgam, has shown the Government in poor light, with even the local police giving a clean chit to the young boy Manzoor Ahmad who died in the ``custody'' of Rashtriya Rifles.

``What we achieve over a long period is negated by such aberrations,'' admits a top security force official. Mr. Azad says that a Cabinet sub-committee has been set up to ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the State Human Rights Commission.Officials say that against 2026 incidents of violence by militants and killing of 817 civilians and security personnel during November 2004-October 2005, the figures from November 2005 to October 2006 were only 1642 and 590.

But the fact remains that in certain areas, especially in north Kashmir, the police and security forces have been unable to control militancy. Resurgence of militancy in the apple town of Sopore has become a cause for serious concern. The same is the case with Bandipore, Lolab and some areas in South Kashmir.

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