195 civilians killed,534 injured in JK in last five years: Union Govt

New Delhi: The Union government on Tuesday said that 195 civilians were killed, 534 were injured in Jammu and Kashmir in the last five years in terror-related incidents in Lok Sabha. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai also said that a total of 348 security personnel including J&K Police personnel were killed while 796 were injured during the period.

In a written reply by the Union Minister said that as many as 40 civilians were killed and 72 were injured in terror-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir this year till November 15.

According to the data shared by the Minister, 40 civilians were killed in 2017, 39 each in 2018 and 2019 and 37 in 2020. The data also show that 80 security personnel were killed in 2017, 91 in 2018, 80 in 2019, 62 in 2020 and 35 in 2021 so far.

The details regarding the number of Security Forces personnel including J&K police personnel and civilians who have either got injured or have lost their lives in terror-related incidents from the year 2017 to 2021(up to 15.11.2021). See the table

On Monday, the government had informed the Rajya Sabha that 1,033 incidents of attacks by terrorists have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir in the last three years. The highest number of incidents - 594 - were reported in 2019, according to details provided by the minister of state for defence Ajay Bhatt. He also said that 196 incidents have taken place till November 15 this year.

MInister Ajay Bhatt added that the silver lining was that terrorist attacks had come down in recent years as had loss of life by military personnel.

On Tuesday, Minister Rai assured the Parliament that all steps were being taken to minimise loss of life in J&K while confronting terrorists, including cracking down on those who provide aid to terrorists, night patrolling, better coordination between security agencies and legally moving against those who provide terrorists with funding.

In reply to another question on Tuesday, the Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed that as many as 1,678 Kashmiri migrants have returned to Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 for taking up jobs under the Prime Minister's Development Package-2015.

The minister said that the government has also taken various measures to restore ancestral properties to migrant Hindus. Under the Jammu and Kashmir Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection & Restraint on Distress Sales) Act, 1997, District Magistrates (DMs) of concerned Districts in Jammu and Kashmir are the legal custodians of the immovable properties of migrants, who take suo motto action on eviction proceedings in cases of encroachment.

He said the migrants can also request DMs in such cases. The DMs are further empowered to take all steps for the preservation and protection of such properties. According to the Union Minister, the land of 150 applicants has been restored as per information provided by the government of Jammu and Kashmir,

The government of Jammu and Kashmir has launched a portal on September 7, 2021, to address the grievances of Kashmiri migrants in this regard, he said.

Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated by the Union government on August 5, 2019. The state was also divided into two Union Territories.