Early Times Report
srinagar, June 27: More than seventeen thousand persons, mainly youth, were arrested for indulging in stone pelting in Jammu and Kashmir, Ministry of Home Affairs told parliament.
Responding to a question by Shiv Sena's Anil Desai, MoS Home G Krishan Reddy said that "pursuant to the Government policy of zero tolerance towards (militancy), the State Government has taken stringent action to deal with stone pelting, including identification and arrest of stone pelters and instigators of such acts under relevant laws."
Reddy said in 2016, 2653 persons were arrested for stone pelting while 2838 and 3797 persons were arrested for stone pelting in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
He said the Government has also constituted a Joint Monitoring Committee involving all concerned agencies at the central level and a Multi Disciplinary Terror Monitoring Group (TMG) at the State level for sustained action against militancy funding. "This has, inter-alia, resulted in a significant decline in the incidents of stone pelting in 2019 so far, compared to the number of incidents during the corresponding period last year," Reddy added. Responding to separate query, Reddy said at-least 112 civilians and more than 700 militants have been killed in the state in last three years.
A total of 113 militants were killed between January and June 16 this year, 257 were killed in 2018, 213 in 2017 and 150 in 2016, taking the total number of those killed during the period to 733, he said.
As many as 112 civilians have also lost their lives during this period in the state, he said.
Of them, 15 had died in 2016, 40 in 2017, 39 in 2018 and 18 between January and June 16, this year.
"The government has adopted a policy of zero tolerance towards (militancy). Security forces are taking effective and continuous action in countering (militancy). This has resulted in corresponding change in the number of such incidents, including casualties," Reddy said.
"Security forces keep a close watch on persons who attempt to provide support to (militants) and initiate action against them," he added.
"In order to bring about overall development for the benefit of people of Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister has announced a package of Rs.80,068 crores," he said to a query regarding the steps being taken by the Government to win the faith and confidence of the locals."
"This package consists of 63 major development projects in Road sector, Power generation and transmission, health infrastructure, establishment of 2 AIIMS, IITs, IIMs and tourism related projects etc. Training and employment opportunities for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir are also provided under many schemes such as HIMAYAT and UDAAN. In order to mainstream the youth, special emphasis is being given to Watan ko Jano program, student exchange program, sports as well as civic action program of CAPFs," he added. |
