AARYAN SHARMA
JAMMU: After a gap of eight years, 2016 witnessed maximum number of deaths of terror commanders and their cadre along with highest number of 87 security personnel in different militancy related incidents across Jammu and Kashmir.
The year witnessed more than half a dozen fidayeen strikes on army installations and other places in which 165 terrorists were neutralised.
Killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani in south Kashmir district of Anantnag had triggered sporadic incidents of street violence.
According to official sources, ” A total number of 266 people were killed in 2016 in terror related violence. It included 87 security personnel, 14 civilians and 165 militants”.
In 2010 the highest number of 270 terrorists were neutralised by the security forces while 69 security personnel sacrificed their lives during the same year.
Compared to this, 41 security personnel sacrificed their lives in year 2015 and the same year recorded deaths of 20 civilians while 113 terrorists were neutralised by the security forces in different operations.
In 2014, 51 security personnel had sacrificed their lives while 32 civilian deaths were recorded during the same period. According to official sources, “110 militants were neutralised by the security forces in 2014”.
Before 2014 the highest number of 90 security personnel sacrificed their lives while eliminating highest number of over 350 militants.
According to official sources in 2016 the terror handlers changed their tactics and ambushed army convoys on the National highway, executed terror attacks by holding inside government buildings and targeted various army installations across Uri, Baramulla, Poonch, Nagrota. In all these operations the heavily armed militants were able to breach the multi layered security cordon and targeted security personnel inside these army camps inflicting maximum causalities. After fidayeen strike on Uri army camp Indian army had carried out surgical strikes inside POK and neutralised several launching pads across PoK.
