Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing a surge in terror assaults and counter-terrorism operations.
New Delhi:
Jammu and Kashmir recorded a decline of over 70 per cent in terror-related actions up to now 5 years however civilian killings proceed to stay a serious concern amid a surge in such circumstances within the area this 12 months, a high bureaucrat within the House Ministry knowledgeable a Parliamentary Standing Committee on House Affairs.
Union House Secretary Govind Mohan stated the Union territory registered a substantial drop in civilian killings over the previous 5 years, however the determine stands greater this 12 months compared to final 12 months. In addition to, a steep decline within the variety of terrorists killed in varied operations and encounters with safety forces through the given interval has additionally been recorded, sending alarm bells ringing in authorities circles.
The knowledge was supplied at a time when Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing a marked escalation in terror assaults and counter-terrorism operations, particularly after the meeting elections – the primary in a decade – in September and October.
The ministry stated that as many as 50 civilians had been killed in 2019 within the Union territory. Whereas the determine got here all the way down to 14 by the primary week of November this 12 months, it’s practically 3 times greater than what was recorded final 12 months, when 5 civilians had been killed by terrorists.
The Centre additionally stated that 73 circumstances of assaults on civilians had been reported in 2019 however these had been diminished to 10 this 12 months.
Based on the House Ministry, the variety of terror-related incidents registered a pointy decline from 286 in 2019 to solely 40 by the primary week of November this 12 months.
Likewise, 96 cases of terror assaults on safety forces had been reported in 2019. The determine rose to 111 a 12 months later however subsequently declined from then onwards. A complete of 111 circumstances had been recorded in 2020, 95 in 2021, 65 in 2022, 15 in 2023 and 5 this 12 months.
On the killings of safety personnel, the ministry’s information stated 77 circumstances had been reported in 2019, which was diminished to 58 in 2020, 29 in 2021, 26 in 2022, 11 in 2023 and 7 in 2024.
The ministry additionally supplied information on the variety of terrorists killed within the area in varied operations and encounters.
“In 2019 as many as 142 terrorists had been killed however this 12 months the quantity is round 44. This a explanation for fear because it signifies that regardless of varied efforts we aren’t in a position to remove them,” a senior officer stated, in search of anonymity.
The ministry stated that the variety of grenade assaults decreased from 49 in 2019 to 1 this 12 months. Equally, the variety of infiltration bids by terrorists was diminished from 141 to 3 throughout these 5 years.
House ministry officers stated the protection of civilians has been a key focus space of the Narendra Modi authorities. As a part of “Imaginative and prescient @ 2047” (the Centre’s Viksit Bharat plan to make India a developed nation by 2047), the ministry stated it seeks to develop a secure, harmonious and affluent India with secure borders, and that this could possibly be achieved by way of robust inner safety, our on-line world, clear prison justice system and affluent borders.
In Jammu & Kashmir, the federal government intends to remove terrorist help and terror financing networks, apart from taking authorized motion in opposition to “anti-India parts”, the officers stated.