December 24
2018 has been the deadliest year in a decade as the year has seen highest number of Militants killings, 237, civilians killing 140 and 120 Government Force personnel have been killed while in 2017, 86 encounters resulted in the death of 213 Militants.
Figures available to The Kashmiriyat suggest that 103 Encounters have raged between Government Forces and Militants in which at least 237 Militants have been killed, the encounters have happened mostly in residential areas of South Kashmir, but also along the Line of control that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
Besides, 01 April this year, saw three encounters raging in a single day, one in Kachdoora Shopian, second one at Dialgam Islamabad (Anantnag) and the last one at Dragad in Shopian, the three encounters witnessed twenty deaths.
2018 was the first time since 2001 that the Indian Government announced a unilateral ceasefire from 14 May to 17 June where the Government forces were asked not to launch new operations during Ramadan.
The year also saw the killing of some of the oldest surviving militants Showkat Ahmed Tak, Altaf Ahmed Dar, Mehraj u Din Bangroo and the killing of scholars including Sabzar Ahmed Bhat, Manan Wani. (The Kashmiriyat)