Fatalities increase over last year in Jammu and Kashmir

NEW DELHI: The year 2018 has been deadliest in recent years for Indian Army and BSF personnel manning the Line of Control and the International Border. A record 15 Army personnel and 12 BSF personnel were lost in battle casualties in 2018. The number of civillians killed were 28, more than double the figure of 12 from 2017. The facts were laid down in the Lower House of the Parliament by MoS (Defence) Dr. Subhash Bhamre today.

The number of fatalities have been steadily rising since the last three years with the number of civilians doubling since 2015. The figures are especially worrisome in the light of the fact that more than five months of the year 2018 still remain.

According to the minister, during ceasefire violations, the inhabitants of border villages which are vulnerable to shelling/ firing are shifted to safer locations to prevent any loss of life. All arrangements are made for free boarding, lodging, medicare, water, electricity, food, sanitation, and transport to safer places in such cases. The defences along the border are adequately fortified to withstand fire and continuous improvements, including the usage of modern technology, in the defences are made to make them more robust and resilient.


The number of terrorists neutralised have also been high, 110 upto till July 22, 2018.

The unceasing infiltration signals a failure of polity to curb militancy and terrorism in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.