Ceasefire-violation deaths in J&K highest in 3 years

NEWDELHI: As many as 55 security personnel and civilians have lost their lives in cease-fire violations along the Line of Control (LOC) and international border with Pakistan this year so far, the government told Rajya Sabha on Monday. These were the highest number of casualties compared to the last three years.

The number of cease-fire violations has also been the highest in 2018, recording a sharp spike compared to the previous three years.

Figures shared by minister of state for defence Subhash Bhamre in the Upper House, in response to a question, revealed that the casualties due to border violations by Pakistan were the highest in 2018, compared to the annual count for the last three years. The count of security men

and civilians killed stood at 31 in 2017 and 26 each for the two preceding years, according to the government’s figures.

Of the 55 people killed this, 28 were civilians. Twelve civilians were killed in cease-fire violations in 2017, 13 in 2016 and 16 the year before.

The minister said Pakistan security forces violated the ceasefire 1,432 times till July 23 this year, including 942 violations along the volatile LOC. In 2017, when India carried out surgical strikes inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the count of border violations by Pakistan was 971, including 860 along the LOC. The total number of border violations by Pakistan in 2016 and 2015 stood at 854, including 380 at the LOC.

On the spike in border violations by Pakistan and the resulting casualties, former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General BS Jaswal (retd) said the Indian Army had become “very proactive” along the LOC and was taking punitive action against cease-fire violations by the neighbouring army and Pakistan was also responding.