2018 is only half-way and we have already lost as many as 55 security personnel and civilians in ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) and international border with Pakistan so far. Out of the total 55, 28 killed were civilians.
Compared to the last three years, the casualties have been the highest this year.
Minister of State (Defence) Suresh Bhamre informed Rajya Sabha that the number of casualties has been the highest this year. The count of security men and civilians was 31 in 2017 out of which 12 were civilians, 26 in 2016 and 2015 out of which 13 and 16 were civilians in each respective year.
Pakistan security forces violated the ceasefire 1,432 times till July 23 this year, including 942 violations along the LoC.
Not just this, the army lost 106 personnel in battle casualties in 2017. The information was conveyed by Minister of State for Defence, Subhash Bhamre in the Lok Sabha on July 18.
“In 2017, 98 Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and those of other ranks, and eight officers died in battle casualties which included ceasefire violations, enemy fire across the Line of Control, avalanche, terrorist attacks, landslide and mine blasts,” the minister said.
Apart from this, Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir told the Lok Sabha that as many as 199 security personnel were killed in Maoist violence in between 2015-17.
“199 security personnel have been martyred in Left Wing Extremism affected state in 2015-17,” Ahir said.
In February this year, the Pakistani Army on Saturday resorted to heavy shelling on the LoC.
Residents of border area of Haji Pir sector in Uri’s Baramullah district had to flee to nearby villages amid a rat-a-tat of machine guns and heavy mortal shelling by Pakistan.
“Barely 40 minutes after the announcement, Pakistani Army resorted to heavy shelling. While many of us were able to flee before the firing started, some got trapped in their homes who were later rescued by the local administration” said Irshad Ahmad Chalkoo of Silikote village.
The firing which continued for around six hours, forced hundreds of residents of Silikote, Tilwari, Churanda, Balakote, Hathlanga and other border villages of Haji Pir sector to take refuge in a Higher Secondary school in Uri town.
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It is after a huge gap of 15 years that Pakistan has resorted to such heavy shelling in the Uri sector.
Not just this, Pakistan violated ceasefire 771 times along the LoC.
This is 230% increase in ceasefire violation along the LoC this year compared to 2016.
Along the LoC and the International Border (IB), Pakistan violated the ceasefire a total of 881 times.
However, during 2014, the number for the same stood 153.
Clearly, the BJP government has failed on delivering its promise of ending terrorism and giving Pakistan an apt response. On the contrary, there has been a rise in the number of terror activities and casualties.