Srinagar: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Wednesday said that year 2022 saw the highest number of anti-militancy operations in J&K in which 187 militants were killed while civilian and security forces killings were at all-time low.
Replying to a query in Rajya Sabha, the MHA said that 111 counter militancy operations were launched in 2022, which is highest since 2018 that recorded 100 such operations.
“In 2018, 228 militancy related incidents were recorded, 153 in 2019, 1126 in 2020, 129 in 2021 and 125 in 2022,” the MHA reply states. It further states that the year 2018 saw 189 encounters. “In 2019, 102 encounters were reported, 118 in 2020, 100 in 2021 and 117 in 2022,” the reply reads.
It further reads that 39 civilians were killed in 2018, 39 again in 2019, 37 in 2020, 41 in 2021 and 30 in 2022. “91 security forces personnel were killed in action in 2018, 80 in 2019, 62 in 2020, 42 in 2021 and 31 in 2022, (which is lowest since 2018),” the reply adds.
It states that year 2018 saw 100 counter militancy operations while as in year 2019, 74 such operations were launched. “Year 2020 recorded 100 such operations, year 2021, 95 and year 2021 and 111 in 2021 (highest since 2018,” it reads.
The reply also states that in year 2018, 17 militants were arrested, 20 in 2019, 21 in 2020, 17 in 2021 and 24 in 2022.
“In 2018, the highest number of militants were killed at 257, 157 were killed in 2019,221 in 2020, 180 in 2021 and 187 in 2022,” the reply reads.
In reply to another query, the MHA stated that no new Village Defence Groups (VDGs) were created while the existing ones are continuing. “At present, sanctioned strength of VDGs is 4985 of which 4153 have been constituted,” the reply reads.
’25 security forces personnel, 2 civilians killed in Jammu since Aug 2019’
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday informed Rajya Sabha that 27 persons including 25 security personnel and two civilians were killed in militant attacks across Jammu since August 05, 2019.
In a written reply, Minister of State in the Ministry Of Home Affairs (MHA), Nityanand Rai, said that a total of 25 security personnel including two from Jammu-one each in 2019 and 2022, 2 in Rajouri in 2020, five in 2021 & four in 2022, 9 Poonch in 2021, 1 in Ramban in 2019, 1 in Kishtwar in 2020 and 1 Doda in 2020 were killed in militant attacks post August 5, 2019.
He also said two civilians were in Jammu region, which include one in Rajouri in 2021 and one in Udhampur in 2022.
He further said 48 security personnel have also been injured in militant attacks, which include 10 in 2019, four in 2020, 14 in 2021 and 15 in 2022 and 20 civilians have also been injured including one in 2020, nine in 2021 & 19 in 2022.
Replying to another question, the MoS Home said that the Village Defence Group Scheme, notified by the Government of J&K in the year 1995, did not envisage the constitution of the Village Defence Committees (VDC).
“However, in terms of the Scheme ibid, Village Defence Groups (VDGs) were to be constituted. Village Defence Groups, in terms of the Scheme of 1995, have already been constituted in the Districts of Poonch and Rajouri of the Jammu Division for the protection of Villages,” it added.
“As per Village Defence Guards Scheme (VDGs), notified by the Government of UT of J&K on 14.08.2022, apart from the areas/village already declared as vulnerable areas in the Scheme of 1995, any other area/village, which may be considered more vulnerable area by the law enforcement agencies, necessitating application of the Scheme ibid to such other area/village, the Government can by an order declare such other area/village as a “more vulnerable area” for the purpose of the Scheme ibid,” he said.
