New Delhi: A total of 389 people are currently in detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Home Affairs informed the Rajya Sabha Wednesday.
Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said detention orders have been issued against 444 people under the JK Public Safety Act since August 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated.
At present, 389 people are in detention under the PSA, he said in reply to a written question.
“The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has reported that in order to prevent commission of offences involving breach of peace and tranquility, activities prejudicial to the security of the State and maintenance of public order, detention orders were issued against 444 persons under the J&K PSA, 1978, since August 2019.”
“Regular reviews are undertaken on a case-by-case basis and accordingly, extension in detention or revocation is made based on reports of field agencies and the ground situation,” he replied.
437 persons under preventive detention
The MHA also informed the Upper House that over 437 people are under preventive detention in J&K.
In a written reply to a question on this, Reddy said that 6,605 persons, including miscreants, stone-pelters, over ground workers (OGWs), separatists, were taken into preventive custody under statutory provisions by the concerned Magistrates, since August 2019.
“Out of these, 437 persons, among whom none is minor, are presently under preventive detention,” Reddy replied.
32 terrorists, 19 civilians killed since 5 August
Reddy also informed the Rajya Sabha that since 5 August 2019, 32 terrorists have been killed and 10 terrorists have been arrested.
He also stated that 19 civilians died in terrorist attacks or during action against terrorists.
“An ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh is paid to the NoKs (next of kins) of civilians killed in militancy-related violence under the existing scheme of Government of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
“In addition, Rs 5 lakhs is given under the scheme Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims/Family of Victims of Terrorist /Communal/ LWE Violence and Cross Border Firing and Mine/IED Blasts on Indian Territory.”
Incidents of ‘martydom’ on decline
The ministry also informed Rajya Sabha that incidents of martyrdom of security force personnel have come down by 73 per cent in J&K.
“While 82 Security personnel were martyred during the period of 173 days from 13th February, 2019 till 4th August, 2019; 22 Security Force personnel were martyred during the similar period of 173 days from 5th August, 2019 till 24th January, 2020,” Reddy stated in his reply.
(With PTI inputs)
Also read: How a phone call led to arrest of J&K cop Davinder Singh & two Hizbul terrorists