NEYAZ ELAHI
Srinagar, Dec 31: As compared to the previous year (2022), this year (2023) witnessed a sharp decline in casualties related to militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir. There was a dip in encounters, civilian killings as well as the killings of policemen are concerned. However, soldier casualties witnessed a surge this year. Last year 12 soldiers were killed in Jammu and Kashmir that touched to 29 mark this year.
The data available with the news agency Kashmir News Trust reveals that 121 persons including 21 local militants, 52 infiltrators, 29 soldiers, 4 policemen, 14 civilians, and a BSF personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir this year.
At least 21 local militants were killed this year in Jammu and Kashmir. These militants who were part of different militant organizations were killed in different encounters that raged in Budgam, Potgampora Awantipora and Aarihal Pulwama, Wanigam Kreeri and Karhama Kunzar areas of Baramulla, Hawoora and Kujjar and Samnu villages of Kulgam, Gadole Kokarnag, Alshipora and Kathohalan areas of Shopian. These slain militants hailed from different districts of Jammu and Kashmir including Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, and Poonch.
At least 52 infiltrators including some non-local active militants were killed along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. Among them, 12 infiltrators were killed alone in the month of June. These infiltrators were neutralized by the Army mostly in Kupwara sectors.
This year 26 soldiers were killed in different encounters and militant attacks. These soldiers including some top-ranking officers were slain in the Potgampora Awantipora Pulwama encounter, Bhatadhurian area of Poonch, Kandi forest area of Rajouri, Halan forest area of Kulgam, Narla village of Rajouri, Gadole Kokarnag, Kalakote Rajouri, Surankote Poonch.
Besides, 3 soldiers including a JCO slipped to death in Maachil Sector of Kupwara during a routine operation.
This year 4 cops were killed in encounters and militant attacks. These include DSP Humayoun Bhat, Inspector Masroor Ahmed, Head Constable Ghulam Muhammad Dar, and a retired police officer (SP) Muhammad Shafi Mir.
Central Reserve Police Force didn’t witness any casualty in its ranks this year, however, a BSF head constable Lal Fam Kima from Aizwal in Mizoram was killed in cross-border firing in Ramgarh Sector of Samba district. Last year, two CRPF personnel were killed in militant attacks.
As per the news agency KNT, at least 14 civilians were killed this year among which three persons were killed in army custody. Last year the number of civilian casualties was 22. In a deadly attack on the civilians at Upper Dangri in Rajouri district of Jammu 5 people were killed on the very first day of this year. Five people including some minors sustained injuries in this attack. A day after this attack, 2 minors were killed in the same village when militants detonated an Improvised Explosive Device. A local Pandit working as JK Bank Security Guard was shot dead by militants in Achan village of Pulwama. Militants also shot dead a man from Udhampur in Anantnag district. Militants fired upon a civilian Sahil Bashir Dar of Wanihama Anantnag who was injured in the attack and later on succumbed to his injuries. Militants shot dead a migrant worker from UP identified as Mukesh Singh at Tumchi Nowpora Pulwama.
Militants carried out different attacks this year. They lobbed a grenade in the Eidgah area of Srinagar, fired upon a civilian at Hasanpora Tawela village of Bijbehara Anantnag, shot dead a JK Bank Security Guard at Achan Pulwama, also shot at and injured a shopkeeper at Marhama Bijbehara area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. A policeman was also injured after militants attacked a check-post in Bijbehara. A man from Udhampur who was working at a circus mela was shot dead by militants at Janglat Mandi amusement park in Anantnag. Militants in Gagrin area of Shopian also shot at and injured 3 migrant workers, all residents of Bihar. Militants shot at an injured 2 non-local workers in Lal Chowk area of Anantnag district. Militants also fired upon a forest check post set up to nab jungle smugglers near Bangender Bridge Pulwama leading to the death of a forest employee and injuries to a Forester. Militants also fired upon a CRPF vehicle escorting a BJP leader in Khanyar area of Srinagar, however, he escaped unhurt. Militants also shot dead a civilian at Wanihama village of Anantnag. Militants also fired upon Inspector Masroor Ahmed Wani at Eidgah Srinagar while playing cricket who later on succumbed to his injuries. Militants shot dead a migrant worker from UP at Tumchi Nowpora Pulwama. They also shot dead a head constable Ghulam Muhammad Dar at Wailo Kralpora area of Baramulla district. Militants shot at and injured a cop Muhammad Hafiz Chad at Hamdaniya Colony Bemina. Suspected militants shot dead a retired police officer (SP) Muhammad Shafi Mir in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Militants this year managed to break the cordon at various places in Kashmir Valley. They managed to escape from Redbugh village in Magam Budgam, Mitrigam and Larrow Parigam villages Pulwama Pulwama, Chakoora village of Shopian and Andwan Sagam forest area of Anantnag. [KNT]
