Militants triggered 11,970 blasts in 22 years: J-K Government

JAMMU: Adopting "hit and run" strategy to avoid casualties in their ranks, militants have triggered over 11,900 blasts killing 1,766 people and injuring 15,685 others during the over two-decade-long militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Militants have triggered as many as 11,970 blasts to target security personnel and civilians in the state since 1990, according to the official data of the J-K Home Ministry.

A total of 1,766 people were killed and 15,685 others injured in these blasts, it mentioned.

"Terrorists are using IEDs and grenades to inflict casualties on security forces and civilians, and thereby avoiding direct conflict with the forces. This is a part of their strategy to avoid casualties in their ranks," a senior police officer said.

Of the total number of blasts, 5,722 were triggered using IEDs while the remaining 6,248 by hurling grenades, the data said.

The highest number of blasts took place in 1990 (1,522), followed by 1,005 explosions in 1993.

While the maximum number of casualties was reported in 1995 (153 deaths, 1,021 injured), the year 2001 came a close second with 133 deaths and 1,443 injured, the report said.

However, there has been a fall in grenade attacks during the past two years as only 39 and 65 blasts were reported in 2011 and 2010 respectively as compared to 79 and 170 blasts in the preceding two years.