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Over 6,000 Militants Killed
In Kashmir Since 1999

By Indo-Asian News Service
11-27-2

New Delhi, Nov 27 (IANS) Indian security forces have killed some 6,093 militants in Jammu and Kashmir since 1999 while losing 1,631 of their personnel.
 
Minister of State for Home Affairs C. Vidyasagar Rao said 441 militants surrendered and more than
9,000 weapons were seized by the security forces in Kashmir in the same period.
 
The past year was particularly bloody, with 536 security force personnel and 2,020 militants killed in the Himalayan state that has been racked by a separatist movement since 1989.
 
The figures released by Rao indicated that the security forces had maintained a 'kill ratio' -- or the ratio between the number of security personnel killed as against terrorists killed -- between 1:3 and 1:4 since 1999.
 
Kashmir is currently witnessing an upsurge in militant violence that New Delhi has blamed on the state government's "soft" approach in countering the activities of separatist groups.
 
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed's government has released several top separatist leaders as part of its efforts to provide an administration with "a healing touch".
 
Rao said the central government had adopted a "multi-pronged approach to contain cross-border terrorism" in Kashmir.
 
This included the strengthening of border management to check terrorist incursions, proactive action against terrorists, gearing up intelligence gathering machinery and greater coordination between security forces and intelligence agencies.
 
The government is also providing improved weapons and equipment to security forces and taking action against "over-ground supporters of terrorists", he said.
 
The dragging separatist campaign in Kashmir has claimed some 40,000 lives.
 
Copyright © 2001 IANS India Private Limited. All rights Reserved.
 







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