Srinagar, Mar 16: At least 39 security personnel and 31 civilians were killed in incidents of “ceasefire violations and cross border firing” by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir after the effective abrogation of Article 370 on 5 August 2019.

Responding to a question by Shrimati Rita Bahuguna Joshi if there have been ceasefire violations from Pakistan after repealing of Article 370 and the details of casualties suffered on the Indian side due to it, Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said:

“Incidents of ceasefire violations/cross border firing by Pakistan, along the Line of Control (LoC) / International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir have been reported since decades. Immediate and effective retaliation is undertaken by the security forces in such cases. 31 civilians were killed and 39 Security Force personnel were martyred in such incidents from 5th August, 2019 to 28th February, 2021.”

Responding to another question regarding the details of arrangements for treatment and rehabilitation of civilians injured in the cross border firing, Reddy said that affected persons with minor injuries are treated in the hospitals located in close vicinity and those seriously injured are referred to the tertiary care hospitals.

“Ex-gratia cash relief of Rs.5 lakh is given to next of kin (NoK) in case of death or to the victim of more than 50% disability. Compensation for damage to houses/losses, loss of crop, loss of livestock, stay at relief camps and displacement etc., to those affected by cross border firings, are also reimbursed by Government of India as per National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) guidelines. Compensation of Rs. 50,000/- per loss of milch animal is also given. Besides, Government of Jammu and Kashmir also provides relief to such injured persons as per their extant rules,” he said to question about whether any compensation is given to the families of civilians who were killed in the firing from Pakistan, as per GNS.

To another query whether any shelters have been prepared for the protection of civilians who can become victims of Pakistani shelling, Reddy said: “Government has sanctioned construction of 14,460 bunkers (1,431 community bunkers and 13,029 individual bunkers) to provide protection to the people living in the areas close to the IB/LoC and to safeguard human lives in the event of cross border firing. Out of these, 7856 bunkers have already been constructed in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir.”