Srinagar/New Delhi: During a session in the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian Parliament) on July 26, 2023, Wednesday, the Government of India’s Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, informed that at least 900 militants have been killed in J&K after the abrogation of Article 370. However, he didn’t brief about the number of local and foreign militants.
He acknowledged the recent increase in the attacks on forces but maintained that the government’s robust anti-militancy measures have neutralized 28 militants in recent days. “28 have been killed in recent days, while the number of troopers killed in this period is very less that is condemnable,” the Minister added.
Rai mentioned that stone-pelting incidents have ceased entirely since the abrogation of Article 370. Despite these improvements, the region continues to face challenges.
As of July 15, 2024, 10 personnel and 14 civilians have been killed due to militant activities this year, he said. He presented a detailed list and compared the casualties with past years.
The Minister said that from 2004-2014, J&K witnessed 7,217 militancy-related incidents and 2,259 from 2014-2024. “2,829 forces and civilians were killed in J&K from 2004-2014, while 941 forces and civilians were killed from 2014-2024.”
He noted that the number has come down by 67 percent since 2014, and there is also a reduction of 69 percent in militancy-related incidents and an 80 percent reduction in the killing of civilians and forces.
“In 2018, 1,328 stone-pelting incidents have occurred while no such incidents have been reported in 2023 and 2024 so far. Besides that, there were 52 incidents of organized hartal, while no such incidents have been reported in the last two years.”