Kashmir Life: Jammu: Wednesday, January 31, 2018.
The data
shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs reveals that in the year 2017, the total
number of militants killed during encounters include more foreign nationals
than the local militants.
The figures
shared by the government of India should be helpful in representing the true
picture and put a check on the false narrative that the violence in Kashmir is
a result of indigenous political sulking; the numbers clearly depicts foreign
hand in instigating violence and also actively taking part in militant
incidents.
In a Reply
furnished by the Chief Public Information Officer (K-II Desk), Ministry of Home
Affairs, Government of India, dated 17th Jan/2018 in response to an application
under Right to Information Act of RTI
activist Raman Sharma, it is informed that in the year 2017 total 342
militant-related incidents happened in Jammu and Kashmir state.
These
incidents in 2017 also caused injuries to over 226 government forces while 80
others were killed. However, in the year 2016, the number of government forces
killed remained 82 and injured marked as 219.
On the
question of a total number of local and foreign militants killed in Jammu and
Kashmir last year, the reply reads that total 213 militants killed including
127 foreign militants and 86 Locals. In the year 2016, the total number of
causalities suffered by the militants was 150.
The Ministry
of Home Affairs has informed that only 3 militants surrendered in the state of
Jammu and Kashmir during the period 01/01/2015 to 31/12/2017 and 02 militants
surrendered in the year 2017.
The Chief
Public Information officer denied replying the query related to a total number
of local and foreign militants operating in the state of Jammu and Kashmir
instead advised the applicant to approach the state government to get this
piece of information.
It is
pertinent to mention here that in 2007 government forces faced a huge loss of
110 lives, and in the year 2016 and 2017 also proved hazardous to them.