J-K: Civilian deaths in terrorism-related violence down by 90%
Civilian deaths due to terrorism-related violence have come down by over 90% since the 1990s, according to government data released on Thursday.
Civilian deaths due to terrorism-related violence have come down by over 90% since the 1990s, according to government data released on Thursday.
Categorised under four heads -- number of terror or insurgent-related incidents, civilians killed by terrorists in violence, security forces (SFS) killed by terrorists and terrorists killed -- the government data covering a period of 25 years shows that in 1990, there were 4,158 incidents of terrorist-related violence in which 461 civilians, 155 security force personnel and 550 terrorists were killed.
By 2015, however, statistics reveal a drastic drop of 208 incidents of terrorist-related violence in which 17 civilians, 39 security force personnel and 108 terrorists were killed.
Between January 1, 2016 and February 8, 2016, there were 16 incidents of terrorist-related violence in which no civilians or security force personnel deaths were reported. Ten terrorists, however, were killed.
According to the data, terrorist or insurgent-related violence -- which commenced in 1988-89 -- peaked between 1992 and 1996, with the year 1996 recording the highest number of civilian deaths (1,341) followed by 1,031 civilian deaths in 1995.
The year 1995 reports the highest number of terrorist incidents (5,938), followed by 5,829 in 1994.
Civilian deaths started dropping from 2007.
158 civilians and 110 security force personnel were killed in 2007 while the death toll was 15 civilians and 15 security force personnel in 2015.
According to the data, in the last 25 years (1990-2015), 13921 civilians and 4961 security force personnel have lost their lives to terrorist-related violence in Jammu and Kashmir. Over the same period, 21,780 terrorists have been eliminated.
The roots of insurgency are tied to a perceived dispute over local autonomy. In 1987, a disputed state election served as a catalyst for the insurgency. In July 1988, a series of demonstrations, strikes and attacks on government institutions laid the base for insurgency, which during the 1990s, escalated into a major internal security challenge.
The government had said it was committed to a policy of zero tolerance towards any human rights violations and will take deterrent action against anyone violating it.
Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Mukhtar Ansari Death News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.