Rhetoric of Counter-insurgency grid being strengthened ‘Militants, security forces suffer highest casualties in 2016'

NL Correspondent

SRINAGAR: The militants and security forces have suffered highest casualities in 2016 in the past four years while the counter insurgency grid in being strengthened in Jammu and Kashmir.

In its annual report 2016-2017, the Ministry of Home Affairs says during 2016, 150 militants were killed while security forces suffered 82 casualties. During 2013, 2014 and 2015, 67, 110, and 108, militants were killed, respectively. While 53, 47, and 39 security personnel got killed during these years.

Since 1990, the report states that 13936 civilians and 5,043 security personnel lost their lives in the state in militancy related incidents.

The reports states that in 2016, there was significant increase in militant violence and casualties of security forces in comparison to last year (2015). “However, causalities of civilians have decreased in comparison to last year (2015). 2016 witnessed a 54.81 per cent increase and 110.25 per cent increase in the number of militant incidents and fatalities of security forces in comparison to the corresponding period of 2015,” the report reveals. However, there was 11.76 per cent decrease in casualties of civilians in comparison to the corresponding period of 2015.

The report says that Government of India along with the state government has adopted a “multi-pronged” approach to curb cross border infiltration.

To curb infiltration bids, the MHA, says various measures are being taken by the government. “Border infrastructure is being strengthening, multitiered and multi modal deployment along the LoC, construction of border fencing, improved technological surveillance, weapons and equipments for security forces (SFs) are being improved intelligence besides operational coordination, synergized intelligence flow,” the report reads.

The government is strengthening the security mechanism along the LoC in view of infiltration attempts being made across the border that witnessed 100 percent increase since 2013 as per the report.

According to the report, 170 infiltration attempts were made in 2013 that increased to 322 in 2016. During 2014 and 2015, 222 and 208 infiltration attempts were made by infiltrators, respectively.

The MHA report said that the government has adopted various “counter terrorism strategies” to neutralize the efforts and capabilities of militants to disturb peace in the state.

“It has also encouraged policies to mainstream the youth and discourage the local youth from joining militancy,” the report reads. “It will ensure that the democratic process is sustained and the primacy of civil administration is restored so it will effectively tackle the socio-economic problems facing the people on account of the effects of prolonged militancy in the state.”