Jammu & Kashmir sees 70% reduction in terror incidents, civilian casualties remain a key concern
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Jammu and Kashmir has experienced a significant reduction in terror activities over the past five years, with over a 70% decline recorded, according to Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan.
However, concerns remain over civilian casualties, as recent months have seen a rise in these incidents.
Data shared with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs revealed a sharp drop in both terror-related incidents and civilian attacks since 2019.
In 2019, the region reported 286 terror-related cases, which dropped to just 40 by early November this year.
Attacks on civilians have similarly declined, with the number of cases reducing from 73 in 2019 to 10 in 2024. Despite this trend, however, civilian deaths have increased this year, with 14 fatalities so far compared to five last year. The Home Ministry considers this rise an area of concern.
The report highlighted that terrorist encounters with security forces have also declined. The number of terrorists killed in encounters has decreased from 142 in 2019 to around 44 this year, a trend that raises concerns over the effectiveness of counter-terrorism measures.
The data also showed a decrease in the number of grenade attacks and infiltration attempts, with grenade attacks falling from 49 to just one and infiltration attempts dropping from 141 to three over the last five years.
Home Ministry officials stated that civilian safety remains a priority under the Modi government’s "Vision @ 2047," which aims to create a safe, developed India by mid-century. Plans for Jammu and Kashmir include dismantling terrorist support networks and cutting off terror financing channels, as well as enforcing strict action against anti-national activities in the region.