73% drop in Martyrdom of Security Force Personnel in Jammu and Kashmir since Abrogation of Article 370: Shri G. Kishan Reddy

(Judicial Quest News Network)

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, in a written reply to a question regarding martyrdom of jawans after abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, in Rajya Sabha today, said that incidents of martyrdom of security force personnel have come down by 73% in Jammu and Kashmir Article 370, 35A and other constitutional ambiguities were effectively removed on 5^th and 6^th August, 2019 while reorganizing the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir into the new Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the new Union Territory of Ladakh.

Laying down a comparison, Shri Reddy said that while 82 security personnel were martyred during the period of 173 days from 13^th February, 2019 till 4^th August, 2019, 22 security force personnel were martyred during the similar period of 173 days from 5^th August, 2019 till 24^th January, 2020.

Giving a written reply to another related question regarding compensation to the kins of civilians killed in terrorist attacks, Shri Reddy said that Government of Jammu and Kashmir has reported that since 5^th August 2019, 32 terrorists have been killed, 10 terrorists have been arrested and 19 civilians have lost their lives in terrorist attacks or during action against terrorist.

An ex-gratia of Rs.1 lakh is paid to the NoKs of civilians killed in militancy related violence under the existing scheme of Government of Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, Rs.5 lakhs is given under the scheme Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims/Family of Victims of Terrorist /Communal/ LWE Violence and Cross Border Firing and Mine/IED Blasts on Indian Territory, the Minister stated.