Union Home Ministry ‘twists’ data on security situation in JK
Srinagar: The Union Home Ministry has contradicted its own claims that the ‘terror attacks’ in the state of Jammu and Kashmir have come down post demonetization and surgical strikes.
According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) run by the New Delhi-based Institute for Conflict Management, a non-profit organisation, 347 people lost their lives in the violence in comparison to the previous year where 267 fatalities were reported.
The Union government on Tuesday said that terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir have gone up this year, and added the overall security situation in the country has improved after demonetisation.
There were 341 incidents reported in J&K between November 1, 2016, and October 31, 2017, in comparison to 311 during the same period the previous year, MoS (Home) Hansraj Ahir said in reply to a question in Lok Sabha.
To the question of overall security, Ahir replied: “The overall security situation in the country post demonetisation has shown improvement.
He said that the stone pelting incidents have reduced considerably in the state.
Earlier, the BJP led government in the centre has repeatedly claimed that the note ban has caused a setback to militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeastern states.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 28, 2016, stated that the demonetisation drive destroyed terrorism, drug mafia, human trafficking and the underworld in a jiffy.
However, the MHA response also revealed that there had been a sharp increase in the ceasefire violations at the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. While the number of ceasefire violations was just 153 in 2014, it reached a whopping 771 in 2017 up to 10 December. This was more than 300% increase since 2016.
The report which was presented in the current session of the Lok Sabha said that 771 incidents of ceasefire violation were reported along the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir where regular Army controls the de-facto border.
Comparatively, 228 incidents were reported in 2016. Incidentally, 110 incidents of ceasefire violation were reported till November this year along the international border in J&K where Border Security Forces (BSF) controls the border.
Pertinently, the Home Ministry in April this year has claimed that the ‘terror attacks’ in the state have gone down up to 25 percent. Demonetization and surgical strikes were lauded by the BJP led ruling party in the centre as a major strike against militancy and separatist activities in the valley. However, the recent data by the Home Ministry has revealed opposite of it.
Notably, until December 17, according to the SATP data, 347 fatalities took place including 212 militants, 78 government forces and 57 civilians in the state. In comparison to the previous year, the number is too high where 165 militants, 88 government forces, and 14 civilians lost their lives.
KV Correspondent
