Agencies
Srinagar, Feb 5: Kashmir witnessed as many as 1708 militant attacks in last 5 years, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has revealed.
“The number of militant attacks increased from 222 in 2014 to 614 in 2018 in which 138 civilians and 339 security personnels were killed. Kashmir saw 1708 militant attacks in last 5 years. The number of miliatnts killed were 838,” Minister of state in the Ministry of Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir said in a written statement to parliament.
Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed the killing of 257 militants in 2018 – the highest in four years.
A total of 213 militants were killed in 2017, 150 in 2016 and 108 in 2015.
While 142 militants were eliminated in anti-militancy operations till August 31, the rest were killed in the remaining four months.
Government forces also secured surrendering a higher surrender of militants in 2018, which was almost six times more compared to 2017.
Only two militants surrendered in 2017 against one in 2016. No militant surrendered in 2015.
The number of violent incidents were also at a peak during 2018 – almost one-and-half times more than 279 incidents in 2017. A total of 223 violent incidents were registered in 2016 and 143 in 2015.
However, MHA had said that the militant attacks in the hinterland of the India decreased in a major way.
The MHA said in last 5 years from 2014 to 2018, the hinterland of country saw just 6 militant related incidents, with 3 in 2014, 1 each in 2015, 2016, 2018 and none in 2017. The number of civilians & security personnels killed in militant related incidents in last 5 years were 11 each while militants killed were 7.
Informing the parliament on the measures taken by the govt to check miltancy, Ahir said, “In order to avert these incidents in the country, there exists a close and effective coordination between intelligence and security agencies at the centre and the state level. The multi agency centre (MAC) has been strengthened and re organized to enable it to function on 24*7 basis for real time collation and sharing of intelligence with other intelligence agencies & state govts”
He added, “states have also raised special forces to deal with militant related incidents and central armed police forces and national security guards have also been stationed at different locations to assist the states in dealing with such incidents”
The number of left wing extremism attacks in last 5 years were 4969 and saw a gradual decline from 1091 in 2014 to 833 in 2018.
The number of civilian death also declined due to left wing extremism from 222 in 2014 to 173 in 2018 while left wing extremist killed by security forces increased from 63 in 2014 to 225 in 2018.
North east also saw an decrease in insurgency releated attacks from 824 in 2014 to 252 in 2018. The number of civilian death decreased from 212 in 2014 to 23 in 2018. 109 security forces died while 508 extremist were killed in last 5 years.
Pakistan violates ceasefire in Poonch
Srinagar, Feb 5: The armies of India and Pakistan on Tuesday exchanged heavy fire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Defence Ministry spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand said the Pakistan Army violated the 2003 bilateral ceasefire in Krishna Ghati sector around 10.30 a.m, reported news agency.
“Pakistanis … fired rockets,” the spokesman said. “No casualty or damage has been reported on our side.”
An official said the Indian army retailed effectively and strongly.
Searches carried out near IB in Samba
Press Trust of India
Jammu, Feb 5: Security forces conducted an overnight search operation near the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district following information about movement of three armed persons, a police official said Tuesday.
The information about the movement of the suspected persons in the Manohar Gopala area was received around 2130 hours Monday, the official said.
Immediately, a joint search operation was launched by the army and the police, he said.
The official said security forces conducted a thorough search of the entire area along with adjoining villages till 0800 hours Tuesday but nothing could be found.
Earlier on January 29, a two-day search operation was conducted by the forces in Basantar in Ramgarh area of the district following reports of suspected movement.
The searches yielded nothing and were carried out just days ahead of a scheduled rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Vijaypur in the district on February 3.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Kashmir Monitor staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
