Mufti to Centre: walk extra mile as ‘reward’

Sticking to his plan to disband the Special Operations Group, Mufti said that the J&K Police would continue its anti-militancy operations but with a much more humane approach. ‘‘There is no question of backtracking from this issue (of disbanding the SOG),’’ he said.

The spurt in militant violence, he said, was aimed at diverting attention ‘‘but we will not change our programme, we’ll give the security forces a new image.’’

Asked about his role as the head of the Unified Command — the premium counter-insurgency grid that includes the Corps commanders, Director-General of J&K Police and heads of all the paramilitary forces in the state — Mufti said he would drive home human rights concerns as its chairman. ‘‘I won’t be there just for show. I will tell the army how to behave with our own people, I will talk to them about their image and attitude,’’ he said.

Mufti also said that his government would stick to its pledge to free detainees after proper scanning. ‘‘The process of releasing them will start very soon,’’ he said. Other issues Mufti spoke on:

• Other anti-terror laws, especially as POTA has been repealed: the government does need the PSA but it will only be used for public safety and

• On accountability: the government will not compromise on integrity, honesty and accountability. He said he was surprised to see many honest officers in his adminstration. ‘‘We cannot make new tools, we have to rely on whatever instruments we have. But there is not much disappointment. Our administration is still good’’

• Autonomy: the stress will be on initiation of a dialogue, won’t set a target

• Return of Kashmiri Hindus: ‘‘We will try our best to ensure that migrants who want to return come back to their homes.’’