The Indian Express: Jammu: Wednesday,
May 29, 2019.
In the first four months of
2019, 61 security personnel were among 72 people killed and 142 injured in
Jammu and Kashmir. Disclosing this in reply to an RTI by a Jammu-based social
activist Rohit Choudhary, Director (S-JK) and Public Information Officer in the
MHA, Sulekha, said that while 11 of the deceased were civilians, the injured
included 73 jawans.
The number of security
personnel and civilians killed during the corresponding period last year was 91
and 39 respectively.
A total of 177 militants were
also killed by police and security forces between January to April this year,
she said, adding that 614 militants were
killed in operations last year.
She further disclosed that
238 security personnel were among 301 people injured in terror-related
incidents in the Valley during 2018.
Pointing out that situation
in the state has been under control, Northern Army Commander Lt General Ranbir
Singh had last week said that 86 militants have been killed and nearly 20
others apprehended in the current year so far.
There has been a significant
decrease in the number of local youth picking up the gun as only 40 people
joined militant ranks this year against 217 last year, he had pointed out,
adding “our operations to neutralise more militants are continuing’’.
However, the current year has
seen security forces reaching out to parents and teachers in various villages
to urge youths to return to the mainstream. “There have been several such cases
happening in Kashmir and we hope to bring this strength down in the time to
come,’’ he added.
The Northern Army Commander
attributed local youths taking to militancy to their radicalisation and
exploitation of social media by Pakistani agencies. “Pakistan has been
continuing with its efforts to show the movement in Jammu and Kashmir as
indigenous movement,” he said.
On terror infrastructures
across the border, he said it remained intact in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and
in Pakistan. “This is one reason we feel that Pakistan’s insincerity towards
having peace and tranquillity with India. If they mean business, they have to
dismantle the terrorist infrastructure, militant camps and the launch pads
which are close to the LoC,’’ he added.