New Delhi:

Jammu and Kashmir recorded a decline of over 70 per cent in terror-related activities in the past five years but civilian killings continue to remain a major concern amid a surge in such cases in the region this year, a top bureaucrat in the Home Ministry informed a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs.

Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan said the Union territory registered a considerable drop in civilian killings over the past five years, but the figure stands higher this year in comparison to last year. Besides, a steep decline in the number of terrorists killed in various operations and encounters with security forces during the given period has also been recorded, sending alarm bells ringing in government circles.

The information was provided at a time when Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing a marked escalation in terror attacks and counter-terrorism operations, especially after the assembly elections – the first in a decade – in September and October.

The ministry said that as many as 50 civilians were killed in 2019 in the Union territory. While the figure came down to 14 by the first week of November this year, it is nearly three times more than what was recorded last year, when five civilians were killed by terrorists.

The Centre also said that 73 cases of attacks on civilians were reported in 2019 but these were reduced to 10 this year.

According to the Home Ministry, the number of terror-related incidents registered a sharp decline from 286 in 2019 to only 40 by the first week of November this year.

Likewise, 96 instances of terror attacks on security forces were reported in 2019. The figure rose to 111 a year later but subsequently declined from then onwards. A total of 111 cases were recorded in 2020, 95 in 2021, 65 in 2022, 15 in 2023 and five this year.

On the killings of security personnel, the ministry’s data said 77 cases were reported in 2019, which was reduced to 58 in 2020, 29 in 2021, 26 in 2022, 11 in 2023 and seven in 2024.

The ministry also provided data on the number of terrorists killed in the region in various operations and encounters.

“In 2019 as many as 142 terrorists were killed but this year the number is around 44. This a cause of worry as it means that despite various efforts we are not able to eliminate them,” a senior officer said, seeking anonymity.

The ministry said that the number of grenade attacks decreased from 49 in 2019 to one this year. Similarly, the number of infiltration bids by terrorists was reduced from 141 to three during these five years.

Home ministry officials said the safety of civilians has been a key focus area of the Narendra Modi government. As part of “Vision @ 2047” (the Centre’s Viksit Bharat plan to make India a developed nation by 2047), the ministry said it seeks to develop a safe, harmonious and prosperous India with safe borders, and that this could be achieved through strong internal security, cyberspace, transparent criminal justice system and prosperous borders.

In Jammu & Kashmir, the government intends to eliminate terrorist support and terror financing networks, besides taking legal action against “anti-India elements”, the officials said.

Tangmarg, Jammu and Kashmir:

A search operation was carried out in Tangmarg and several parts of Jammu and Kashmir as the Indian Army and Police intensified their searches to trace the accused in terror attacks in Gulmarg in Baramulla in north Kashmir and Gagangir in Ganderbal district of the union territory.

On October 24, two Army soldiers and two civilian porters were killed after terrorists attacked a military vehicle in Baramulla. Earlier on October 20, a doctor and six construction workers were killed when terrorists attacked a tunnel construction site on the Srinagar-Leh national highway in Ganderbal district.

The terrorists struck as the labourers and other staff returned to their camp in Gund, Ganderbal. The incident raised serious concern as this was a targeted killing by the terrorists. The terrorists believed to be at least two, opened fire indiscriminately on a group of labourers, which included both local and non-local people.

On Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha directed the police to tighten security measures around key infrastructure projects and construction camps in the union territories. He further directed a security audit of infrastructure projects, round-the-clock nakas at the strategic points, night patrolling and area domination.

L-G Sinha paid homage to the soldiers and porters killed in a terrorist attack in the Butapathri area of Gulmarg He laid a wreath and paid homage to Rifleman Jeevan Singh, Rifleman Kaisar Ahmad Shah, and defence porters Mushtaq Ahmad Chowdary and Zahoor Ahmad Mir, who laid down their lives for the country.

The Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) carried out a major operation in six districts of the Valley and caught recruiters linked to a terror outfit. The counterintelligence unit informed that the raids were conducted in districts including Srinagar, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Anantnag, Budgam, and Kulgam.

The officials said that they were able to dismantle a recruitment module of the newly formed terrorist organisation called “Tehreek Labaik Ya Muslim” (TLM), which is said to be an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) that was being operated by a Pakistani terrorist handler known as Baba Hamas.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Four Indian Army soldiers, including an officer, have been killed in action in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Monday, taking the total number of Army personnel killed in the past 32 months to 48 in the Jammu region.

According to officials, the encounter broke out when a joint operation by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police was launched in the Desa area of Doda based on specific information about the presence of terrorists.

“Contact with terrorists was established at about 9 pm in which heavy firefight ensued,” Army’s 16 Corps posted on X on Monday night.

Timeline Of Major Attacks In Recent Past

July 16, 2024: Four Army soldiers were killed in action in Doda.

July 8, 2024: Five Army personnel were killed in action and five others injured after terrorists attacked a military convoy in Kathua district.

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June 11-12, 2024: Six soldiers injured in twin attacks.

June 9, 2024: Nine people were killed and 33 injured after a bus full of pilgrims, attacked by terrorists, plunged into a gorge in Reasi.

May 4, 2024: One soldier of the Indian Air Force was killed in action and five others were injured when two vehicles, including one of the IAF, came under heavy terrorist fire in Poonch district.

ALSO READ | South Of Pir Panjal, Terror’s New Address In Jammu And Kashmir

December 21, 2023: Four soldiers killed in action.

November 2023: Five soldiers, including two captains, were killed in action.

April-May 2023: 10 soldiers martyred in twin attacks.

May 2022: Four persons were killed after a pilgrim bus was attacked in Katra.

December 2021: Four soldiers were killed in action.

PM Modi Reviews J&K Security

Amid rising terror incidents, Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month chaired a review meeting to assess the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

He spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and was given a full overview of the security-related situation of the Union Territory and the counter-terrorism operations being undertaken by the armed forces.

He also spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and was briefed on the efforts being undertaken by the local administration.

Sources told NDTV that the Prime Minister has asked the authorities to deploy the full spectrum of the armed forces’ counter-terror capabilities.