By IANS,
Jammu : With a sharp decrease in terror incidents last year, which also saw huge turnout during the almost incident-free legislative elections, 2008 remained the most peaceful time in the troubled Jammu and Kashmir since 1990.
According to official figures, the number of militancy related incidents came down to three digits – 708 – for the first time in the nearly two decades of separatist insurgency during which 42,876 people have been killed.
The dead include 16,832 civilians, 5,204 security personnel and 20,840 militants.
The figures indicate that from 1990 to 2008, a total of 67,430 militancy related incidents have been registered in Jammu and Kashmir.
The highest number of 5,946 incidents were reported in 1995 when violence was at its peak. Since then, it has seen a gradual fall every year but in 2001 violence again peaked with 4,536 incidents.
According to the figures, 147 civilians were killed last year as compared to 399 in 2007.
The highest number of civilian killings in terror related incidents was 1,424 in 1996, the year when the first state assembly elections were held after more than six years of president’s rule.
Among 1,000 civilians killed in 4,211 incidents in 1990, 539 were killed in firing between militants and security forces.
At least 339 militants were killed in 2008 while 460 were killed in 2007. Highest number of 2,020 militants were killed in 2001.
According to the figures, 85 security personnel, including 20 policemen and the rest from the Indian Army and paramilitary forces, were killed last year. The highest number of security personnel deaths – 613 – was reported in 2001.
Only 21 militancy related incidents, in which a civilian and a security man were killed, occurred during the 2008 assembly elections.
As during the 2002 election, 140 militant attacks were registered which left 63 civilians and 29 security personnel dead.
“The figures are self-explanatory and undoubtedly point that the situation is fast becoming normal (in Jammu and Kashmir),” an official said.
According to official estimates, about 800 militants are still active in the state.