The year 2018 saw an upsurge not only in terror-related incidents, innocent killings and the Ceasefire Violations (CFVs) across the Line of Control (LoC) had skyrocketed as well. The Army recorded 1599 cases of CFVs along LoC and lost 20 personnel, the government said in the Lok Sabha on February 6. The feud between the two nations, India and Pakistan, who administrate Kashmir since Independence, worsened. The two countries had fought three wars over Kashmir, apart from the Cold War-era issue of control over the Siachen Glacier. Eventually, this exacerbated the already-fractured bilateral relations and escalated the resentment. However, Indian-administrated Kashmir saw nothing worse than the gravest humanitarian crisis in the Modi-led BJP government.
The number of insurgency-related incidents in the valley in 2018 has nearly doubled, stated the Ministry of Home Affairs on December 12, recording 587 incidents till now. While the terror-related incidents in 2015, 2016 and 2017 were 208, 322 and 342 respectively, as per the MHA statistics. Since the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani, the militancy in the valley saw a volcanic expansion with scholars, mostly in 2018, joining the ranks.
While speaking to media in Kashmir on October 6, 2018, Lt. General AK Bhatt of Indian Army’s 15 Corps said over 300 militants were active in Kashmir. For the first time in a decade, the number of militants soared past the 300 mark including the foreign rebels. Out of which, more than 181 ultras were operating in South Kashmir, as per a report compiled by the Jammu and Kashmir police. It is believed that the higher number of militant casualties in 2018 was due to pinpoint intelligence and diligent operations by the security agencies.
The year 2018, also saw a unilateral ‘ceasefire’ announced by the Centre in terms of non-initiation of combat operations during the holy month of Ramzan in May-June. While mainstream political parties and the people welcomed the move, militants rejected the ceasefire. The ‘Ramadan ceasefire’, however, was not extended any further even it had brought respite to the people.
Playing With Killings
We are very much aware of the fact that the statistics provided by the government are not to be considered necessarily accurate. Doing so will raise a question against them and their governance. So, many news outlets have put out different numbers, when it comes to the killings in the Kashmir valley. Some of them mention the Ministry of Home Affairs’ data, while others cite their anonymous experts and so-called “sources.” For instance, according to India Today, in 2018, as many as 413 killings were reported due to the terror-related incidents in the valley. More than half of the those who died were militants. According to Economic Times, the number of militants killed in the year 2018 was reported as 260 ultras and 95 security personnel, against that of Financial Express, which put the number of security forces at 100.
Something Amiss In The Numbers?
As per its data, up to December 2, 2018, the MHA recorded the number of terror-related incidents at 587, while the killings are at 361. Of which 37 are civilians, and 86 are security personnel. Despite all this, Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), a human rights organisation working in the valley, reckons its numbers unhesitantly. According to “The Report of 2018“, JKCCS describes the year as the “deadliest.”
“The year 2018 was the deadliest year of the last decade in Indian administered Kashmir as violence peaked during the year resulting in the killings of at least 586 people in different incidents of violence,” the report said. Furthermore, it stated that among 586 people killed, 160 are civilians, 267 are militants, and 159 are members of Indian armed forces and Jammu and Kashmir police. JKCCS, however, backs its data (of 160 civilians against that of MHA, which keeps numbers at 37 ) with facts and figures, providing the statistics of each and every civilian killed in the year 2018. The question is, where did the 123 civilians go from the MHA’s statistics? Are they faking the numbers?
Different media outlets also gave different numbers, but didn’t dare to question the data provided by the MHA in the Lok Sabha, which had the least number of civilians deaths. Who will take the responsibility? The point of ambivalence is that if the Modi-led BJP government is so “concerned” about the killings of security forces, then why doesn’t his government table accurate data, rather than playing a blame game with the opposition and politicising the issue? They are eventually using these sentiments for the politically motivated self-interest, ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
The blame game between the two major parties (the BJP and the Congress) continues, which further deteriorates peace in the Valley and escalates political resentment in the country. The skirmish in the Valley continues as the talks between the two countries have come to a halt. Separatists, along with people demanding self-determination or Kashmir, are demanding plebiscite and referendum, despite enjoying a share in the Indian government. “No matter how hard Kashmiris try, no matter how many civilians die, it hardly bothers officials in New Delhi,” says a Kashmiri who requested anonymity.
“I am the survival of disaster and grown in cries, how can I fear the waves of the dead sea?” — Waris Ovais Bhat.
Featured Image source: Kashmir Global/Flickr.
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