Overall 200 militants killed in J&K this year, the highest in nearly a decade.
New Delhi: Security forces have this year killed the highest number of militants in the Kashmir Valley in nearly a decade, indicating both a rise in infiltration as well as a more offensive approach to counter-insurgency operations across the state.
In all, the Jammu & Kashmir police claimed that 200 militants were killed in 2017, of which 120 were of Pakistani origin. This, officials said, pointed to heavy infiltration.
However, the year also saw a high number of civilians killed in militancy-related violence. The figure stood at 54, far higher than in 2010 when 39 were killed. The total number of security personnel killed this year has been 77, lower than the 88 fatalities witnessed last year.
This year has also witnessed a high number of ceasefire violations on the Line of Control and the International Border.
It’s in this backdrop that the Centre decided to appoint an interlocutor for J&K. Former Intelligence Bureau director Dineshwar Sharma, who was chosen for the job, is now making an effort to provide a healing touch through measures like amnesty to stone pelters.
On the other hand, the government is clear that there will be no let up in security operations.
On Thursday, security forces conducted a couple of their more successful operations.
Five militants were killed in two separate operations Thursday — four in Phutlipora of central Kashmir’s Budgam, and one in Sagipura in Sopore, north Kashmir. This took the total number of militants killed by security forces this month to 22.
“This is for the first time since 2010 that over 200 militants were killed in just a year. We have been able to achieve this target by the perfect support of security forces and people who have come forward,” J&K Director General of Police Shesh Paul Vaid told ThePrint.
If 120 of the slain militants were Pakistanis, it pointed to a heavy build-up across the LoC, said an official. The ceasefire violations were tremendous this year, and seeing the increased number of Pakistani militants killed, there seemed to be a “concerted effort” to push militants from that side of the border.
In 2015, the number of militants killed had dropped to around 100. It rose to 165 last year, which also witnessed months of turmoil in the Valley after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.