New Delhi, July 18 (IANS): Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday hit out at the Centre over "brutalities" inflicted on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, asking if civilians should be "treated in the same manner as militants".

"The situation in J&K has never been so bad. Why has the situation in Kashmir worsened since 2008-09? Even our government, Omar Abdullah's government and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's government saw such incidents, but we have never seen such brutalities on the civilians ever," said Azad.

"They have used bullets and pellet guns on the children, old men and women. Should locals be treated the same way we treat militants? Should the same bullets that are used on militants be used on innocent people of the state," asked Azad.

Azad further said: "We are with the government in ending militancy, but can’t support this treatment of civilians. No one supports militants. But there should be a difference between militants and common people," he said.

"People have been killed in all 10 districts of the state, the maximum damage was done in four districts of south Kashmir," he added.