NEW DELHI: Home Minister Amit Shah said the central government will consider revoking the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir.

In an interview with JK Media Group, Shah also said the government has plans to pull back troops in the Union Territory and leave law and order to the Jammu and Kashmir Police alone.

"We have plans to pull back troops and leave law and order to the Jammu and Kashmir Police alone. Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir police was not trusted but today they are leading the operations," he said, adding that "We will also think of revoking AFSPA."

The AFSPA gives the armed forces personnel, operating in the disturbed areas, sweeping powers to search, arrest and to open fire if they deem it necessary for "the maintenance of public order".

Shah had earlier said the AFSPA has been removed in 70 per cent areas in the northeastern states even though it is in force in J&K.

There have been demands from various organisations and individuals in J-K and the northeastern states to revoke the AFSPA.

Shah said the assembly elections will be held in J-K before September. "Enshrining democracy in Jammu and Kashmir is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise and it will be fulfilled. However, this democracy will not be confined to three families alone and will be a people's democracy," he added.