As many as 348 security forces personnel including those from J&K Police were killed while 796 were injured in militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since 2017, Ministry of Home Affairs said on Tuesday.
Responding to questions by parliamentarians including Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth, Thirunavukkarasar Su and Parthiban S.R, Minister of State, ministry of Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai said 195 civilians were killed during the period upto November 15. He said 534 civilians were injured during the time.
Giving year-wise details regarding casualty of the security forces and J&K police personnel, he said, 80 were killed in 2017, 91 in 2018, 80 in 2019, 62 in 2020 and 35 in 2021 (upto November 15).
Similarly, he said, 226 were injured in 2017, 238 in 2018, 140 in 2019, 106 in 2020 and 86 in 2021 (upto November 15).
Regarding the civilian deaths, the minister as per GNS, said that 40 were killed in 2017, 39 each in 2018 and 2019, 37 in 2020 and 40 this year.
Regarding injuries, he said, 99 civilians were wounded in 2017, 63 in 2018, 188 in 2019, 112 in 2020 and 72 in 2021.
Regarding question by the parliamentarians about measures undertaken by government to protect common man from anti-militancy/ naxal operations, the minister said that security forces take “utmost care and exercise restraint during anti-militancy/naxal operations to ensure that no common man is hurt.”
“The measures taken by the Government to protect the common man from the (militant) attacks include proactive operations against (militants), identification and arrest of over ground workers/supporters of (militancy), action against members of banned organizations, intensified night patrolling and checking at Nakas, security arrangements through appropriate deployment, coordination meetings amongst security agencies, high level of alertness maintained by the security forces, legal action in cases of (militant) funding, etc,” he said as per the reply, a copy of which lies with GNS. (GNS)