Ceasefire -- More civilians died during first 70 days

Ceasefire -- More civilians died during first 70 days
HARISH GUPTA

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 20: A Government study has revealed that more civilians were killed during the first 70 days of the unilateral declaration of ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir on November 28 than in the 70 days preceding it. However, the number of security personnel killed was almost half.

The study, conducted by the Department of Kashmir Affairs under the Ministry of Home Affairs, also found that more government buildings, educational institutions and shops were damaged during the ceasefire period (November 28-February 5) compared to the pre-ceasefire (September 19-November 27) period.

One hundred civilians were killed during the pre-ceasefire period while 201 lost their lives during the 70-day phase of the ceasefire. But security personnel suffered less. Ninety five personnel lost their lives in the pre-ceasefire period while this number came down to 54 during the 70 days of the ceasefire.

The information, compiled for the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting here tomorrow, indicates that the number of violent incidents came down during this period. If 746 violent incidents took place in the pre-ceasefire phase under review, the number came down to 707 in the ceasefire period.

Damage to private houses in the state was also less.

Surprisingly, militants also suffered less. If 389 militants died earlier, only 153 were killed during the ceasefire period.