Agencies / Srinagar
More than 250 terrorists were killed and around 45 security forces personnel lost their lives during counter-terrorist operations during 2018. Security officials described Year 2018 as a successful year against terrorism in Kashmir.
Statistics compiled in year 2018 suggest that 106 civilians were killed during the year which included youth that disrupted counter terrorist operations near gunfight sites at various places in south and other areas in Kashmir.
Addressing a media at Police Control Room in Srinagar to highlight achievements, Director General Police Dilbagh Singh said that year 2018 was a good and bad year as well.
Singh said that around 93 encounters with terrorists occurred in year 2018 and 87 were completely without any collateral damage. He said 252 terrorists including Pakistanis were killed which is a success to the counter-terrorism grid.
DGP said, it is sad to note that 90 security personnel were martyred, half of them killed by terrorists brutally later made public through videos on social media.
As many as 45 J&K policemen, 09 CRPF and 30 Army personnel lost their lives on line of duty. Dilbagh said that 44 civilians were also killed by terrorists.
In reply to a question, DGP said that cross-border infiltration is still going on as major infiltration attempts were made in year 2018. He said all possible attempts are in progress to stop infiltration of terrorists from across the border. He acknowledged that a large number of youth joined terrorists and most of them were killed during encounters.
In reply to another question, DGP said that there is no substantial presence of ISIS in Kashmir. He, however, said that attempts are being made to radicalise Kashmiri Muslim youths to tread violent path of extremism and the Government is doing its best to ward off such attempts.