Ceasefire violations on Indo-Pak border up by 48% in 2020: Govt

NEW DELHI: Ceasefire violations along the Indo-Pakistan border in Jammu & Kashmir went up 47.5% to 5,133 in 2020 from 3,479 in 2019, while terrorist attacks in the Union territory fell 59% to 244 from 594 in the corresponding period, the home ministry told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Union minister of state for home G Kishan Reddy said 22 civilians were killed and 24 security personnel martyred on account of ceasefire violations, while terrorist incidents in J&K claimed the lives of 37 civilians and 62 security personnel.

Terrorists killed in attacks in J&K during 2020 rose to 221 from 157 in 2019.

Meanwhile, replying to another query, Reddy informed the Lok Sabha that J&K government had reported the issue of a total 33,80,234 domicile certificates up to January 25, 2021.

“It has been further reported by the UT administration that since the constitutional changes were made in August, 2019, 58 civilians have lost their lives in 54 terror attacks,” he added.

The minister, however, contended that no pattern of selective targeting based on religion could be established, as the question was asked around the number of Hindus killed in J&K.