251 armed forces, 118 civilians killed in last 3 years in J&K militant incidents: GoI

SRINAGAR — 251 armed forces and 118 civilians were killed in various militant incidents in Jammu and Kashmir during the last three years, Minister of State, Defence Shripad Naik said on Monday.

Responding to a question in Parliament by Congress veteran Ambika Soni regarding ‘battle causalities’, the minister said that 80 armed men and 40 civilians were killed in 2017.

The number of armed men and civilians slain stood at 91 and 39 respectively in 2018, the minister said. Similarly, the minister said, 80 armed men were killed along with 39 civilians last year.

To another question as to whether there are any guidelines for payment of compensations to the personnel of armed forces who died while on duty and those killed in action, the minister said that Rs 25 lakh is paid as compensation for “death in the course of duties attributable to acts of violence by (militants) and Rs 35 lakh in “death occurring during enemy action in war or border skirmishes or in action against militants, etc.”

Meanwhile, the minister while responding to a separate query said 138 cases of infiltration by militants along the Line of Control and International Border were reported during the year 2019.

“Due to concerted and synergized efforts of security forces, 157 (militants) were neutralized in the year 2019 in Jammu & Kashmir,” the minister added.