'69 killed in militancy-related, Pak firing incidents this year'

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday informed the assembly that 69 people including 35 security personnel were killed and 199 injured in militancy- related incidents and Pakistani firing in the state this year.

While 49 people - 29 security personnel and 20 civilians - lost their lives in militancy-related violence, six security personnel were among 20 people killed in firing from across the border till September 22 this year, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said in a written reply to a question by National Conference legislator Mian Altaf Ahmad.

He said 124 people including 71 security men were injured in militancy-related incidents and 75 wounded in Pakistani firing. They included 16 security personnel.

Sayeed said in militancy-related violence last year, 35 civilians were killed and 70 injured while 47 security personnel lost their lives and 84 wounded.

The firing from Pakistani side left 14 civilians dead and 101 others injured, while four security personnel were killed and 16 others injured last year, he said.

The Chief Minister said an ex-gratia relief of Rs 34.43 lakh and Rs 19.32 lakh was given to the next of kin of those killed and injured in Jammu division and Kashmir division, respectively.

The remaining cases are under process, he said.

In another written answer, Sayeed said one boy lost his eyesight, while another left with impaired eyesight due to the use of pellet gun or pump action gun fire during protests in the Valley this year.

As per the reports furnished by police headquarters, one boy has sustained pellet injury in police action in May at Palhallan in Baramulla district, resulting in impaired eyesight for which he is undergoing treatment, he said.

The Chief Minister said two more persons have reportedly sustained injuries in pump action gunfire while police was handling a mob at Kakapora in Pulwama district on August 7.

One of the injured persons has reportedly lost eyesight, he said adding, he is undergoing treatment.