* 28 killed in 11 terror incidents this year
Amogh Rohmetra
JAMMU, July 30: Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Nityanand Rai stated in Parliament that no organised hartals and stone-pelting incidents took place in Jammu and Kashmir in 2023 and 2024.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
However, 28 killings, including 14 civilians and 14 security forces, took place in the first seven months of this year due to terror-related incidents. During this period, 11 terror incidents have taken place, and in response, security forces have conducted 24 encounters and counter-terrorism operations.
In comparison, 46 terror incidents took place in the UT last year. Rai was responding to a question in the Lower House and attributed the “decline in the number of terror incidents” to an 11-point strategy. The Union Minister stated, “The approach of the Government is to dismantle the terror ecosystem. Security measures are being strengthened to sustain peace and stability in J&K.”
The strategies adopted to curb terrorism in the UT include “special focus” on modernisation and strengthening of security equipment, intensified cordon and search operations, round-the-clock nakas at strategic points, and enhancement of counter-insurgency grid, among other things.
Further, Rai informed the Parliament that apart from banning “anti-national” organizations, the agencies are cracking down on the terror finance ecosystem through seizure and attachment of properties owned by terrorists and their associates. He also elaborated on certain preventive measures as part of the Government’s strategy.
These preventive measures include identifying the “strategic supporters” of terrorism, followed by investigations and a multi-pronged strategy to prevent infiltration through the border. Intelligence inputs are also being shared on a real-time basis between different security agencies in J&K.
Rai stated that “effective, continuous and sustained actions against terrorists and support structures” are being conducted by the Government using a “whole of Government approach.” In the process, up to July this year, deaths in security forces have halved, compared to 30 deaths last year.
However, civilian killings have already breached the 2023 tally, when throughout the year 14 deaths took place, according to the data presented in the Parliament.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
