NEW DELHI Government forces have killed 581 militants since 2015, 473 after the 2106 death of Hizbul Mujahedin commander Burhan Wani which triggered new wave of militancy in Kashmir.
69 security personnel died in ceasefire violations during the period, according to Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre.
Bhamre told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that in 2015, 108 militants were killed by forces followed by 150 in 2016, 213 in 2017 and 110 in 2018 (up to July 22), Bhamre said in a written response to a question in the Lower House.
He said 44 personnel of the Army and 25 of the Border Security Force (BSF) were killed in ceasefire violations since 2015.
Bhamre said as per the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) database on military expenditure, the military spending of China stood at USD 2,16,031.30 million and USD 2,28,230.70 million in 2016 and 2017 respectively. On the other hand, India spent USD 56,637.60 million and USD 63,923.70 million in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Replying to another question, he said there was 17,57,055.324 acres of defence land. Nearly 8,38,987.292 acres of land was acquired by the Defence Ministry after independence, he added.
NSG Deployed in Kashmir
The anti-terror commando force, NSG, has been deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for strengthening the existing security grid, Union Minister Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said today.
The government has decided to deploy a task force of the National Security Guard (NSG) in the Kashmir Valley to strengthen the existing security grid and undertake capacity building training of the Jammu and Kashmir Policeand the Central Armed Police Forces, he said in the Rajya Sabha.
In another written reply, the Minister of State for Home said during the Ramzan ceasefire, from May 17 to June 17, 2018, as many as 117 incidents of stone pelting were reported in Jammu and Kashmir as against 219 during in the period of April 15 to May 16, 2018.
Extremists Use Children: Rijiju
There are reports that some militant or extremist groups in the country, such as the Maoists, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen, are misusing children to further their agenda, the government said today.
During the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju however said there were no reports that children were used as human bombs.
In the left-wing extremism affected states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar, there were reports that “some groups use children in their nefarious designs to destablise the state”, the minister said.
“We have reports that naxalite groups try to use children,” he said, adding that the government was trying to open schools and carry out skill development activities to bring the children in left wing extremism affected areas to the mainstream.
“As per our information, two other militant organisations, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen, have also used children,” Rijiju said.
Independent member Amar Singh wanted to know if children were used as human bombs by some terrorist organisations.
The minister said there were no such reports.
In his written reply, the minister said “the government was aware that some militant/extremist groups in the country forcibly induct children as armed cadres and for other supporting activities”.
While replying to supplementary questions, the minister said there was a reference in the United Nations about armed conflicts in India, to which the government has objected.
“There is no armed conflict in India. We have objected to a reference in the UN,” he said.
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