Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that a total of 174 civilians, 308 security personnel, and 1002 terrorists were killed in Jammu and Kashmir between 2018 and 2022.
In a written reply to a question, Rai said that 174 civilians were killed in 761 terror attacks in the erstwhile state in the last 5 years. He added that 35 civilians were also killed in 626 encounters that took place in the same period.
The minister said that 308 security personnel were killed during the same period, while 1002 terrorists were eliminated by security forces.
Rai also said that the Ministry of Home Affairs administers a central scheme for assistance to civilian victims, family of victims of terrorists, communal, LWE violence and cross border firing and mine or IED blasts on Indian territory. This scheme provides gratuitous assistance to the affected civilians as an immediate help for the sustenance and maintenance of the families of the victims.
The scheme has been in operation since 2008. The compensation has been announced from Rs 3 Lakh to 5 Lakh for 24-8-2016 onwards. State governments make the payment and thereafter claim reimbursement.
The minister’s statement comes at a time when there has been a significant increase in terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years. In 2022 alone, there have been over 200 terror attacks in the region, resulting in the deaths of over 100 civilians and security personnel.
The government has stepped up its efforts to counter terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, but the situation remains volatile. The minister’s statement is a reminder of the human cost of the conflict in the region.
