Deaths in militant attacks dropped over the past decade in Jammu and Kashmir but steeply mounted in the past four years, data released by the Union home ministry showed on Saturday.
A reply to a Right to Information (RTI) query by the ministry also said that 2016 was the worst year in recent times with 247 deaths, including 15 civilians, 82 security men and 150 militants.
The data was recorded between 1990, when insurgency first broke out in the Valley, and March 31, 2017. In this period, 40,961 people died -- 13,941 civilians, 5,055 soldiers and 21,965 militants.
The RTI response said that the number of deaths decreased between 2006 and 2012 but shot up from 2013 onwards.
Till March 31 this year, 52 lives have been lost, including five civilians, 12 security personnel and 35 militants. The RTI was filed by Jammu-based activist Raman Sharma.
2001 was the most-violent year, where 3,552 lives were lost -- 996 civilians, 536 security personnel and 2,020 militants.
The highest number of civilian deaths – 1,341 -- were reported in 1996, followed by 1995, when 1,031 civilians died.
{{/usCountry}}The highest number of civilian deaths – 1,341 -- were reported in 1996, followed by 1995, when 1,031 civilians died.
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