DEATHS DUE TO MILITANCY 18,578 fell prey to ultras’ bullets in 20 yrs

DEATHS DUE TO MILITANCY
18,578 fell prey to ultras’ bullets in 20 yrs
Archit Watts /tns

Jammu, March 31
Since the eruption of militancy in the state in 1990, as many as 18,578 persons, including 698 politicians and 5,363 security personnel, have been killed up to February 25, 2011. Those killed also included 12,517 civilians. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Home portfolio, stated this in a written reply to a question in the Legislative Council here today.

However, there was a drastic decrease in violence after 2001. Omar said, “In 2001, 1,532 persons comprising 76 politicians, 843 civilians and 613 security personnel were killed. This number decreased to 106 in 2010, as only four politicians, 33 civilians and 69 security personnel were killed last year”.

The Chief Minister added that deaths in militancy-related incidents started coming down in 2002, as 1,461 persons were killed; this number fell to 1,109 in 2003; 988 in 2004; 746 in 2005; 540 in 2006; 268 in 2007; 166 in 2008; 142 in 2009; 106 deaths in 2010; while up to February 25, 2011, one politician, four civilians and two security personnel were killed by terrorists.

In the first year (1990) of militancy in the state, about 616 persons comprising 15 politicians, 446 civilians and 155 security personnel were killed. The perusal of official documents revealed that the maximum numbers of politicians, 101, were killed in 2002, while the maximum number of 1,275 civilians were killed by militants in 1996.

The maximum number of security personnel lost their lives while combating terrorism in 2001, when 613 of them attained martyrdom.

While replying to a question by NC legislator Javaid Ahmad Rana, the Chief Minister said keeping in view these figures, the state government was trying to withdraw the AFSPA from 20 out of 22 districts of the state.