Srinagar, July 3: While unofficial militancy-era death count in Jammu and Kashmir is stated to be around one lakh fatalities, official figures put the death count during past 22 years of turmoil at 43000 including 16000 civilians. Among the 16000 civilians, according to official data, 3600 fell to the bullets of the central and state forces.
As per the data furnished by the state’s Home Department to the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), 43000 persons including 16000 civilians lost their lives in the armed conflict between 1990 and May 2012. The state government has admitted that 3600 civilians have fallen prey to bullets of the central and state forces in the last 22 years.
The statement submitted by the government to SHRC states that 3655 civilians were killed while maintaining Law & Order (civilians killed in incidents not related to militancy). And the figure of civilians killed in “militant violence” has been put at around 13246.
The government claims that 21449 militants were killed in the state during past two decades, while the number of forces personnel (who died here) has been put at 5396.
The deceased forces personnel include 3866 from Army and paramilitary forces personnel, 922 police personnel, 477 Special Police Officers (SPOs) and 131 Village Defence Committee (VDC) men.
The government figures contradict the figures of the separatists and the human rights groups who have been repeatedly claiming that more than one lakh people of Kashmir have died in the conflict, since 1990. However, no extensive survey throughout the state   has been conducted by government or any other non-governmental group so far to assess the real number of causalities in 22 years.

INJURED
The figures reveal that 34000 persons have been wounded in the conflict.
According to government version, 22088 civilians have received non-fatal injuries and 12947 Army/paramilitary forces personnel were also injured.
The reply states that 10324 troopers and paramilitary forces personnel, 2106 cops, 462 SPOs and 55 VDC men were injured during the turmoil.

ARRESTED
The government claims that 21655 militants were arrested in two decades in the state.

WEAPON AND AMMUNITION SEIZURE
The state government claims to have recovered 30752 AK 47/56/74 rifles in the state since 1990. While as many as 11431 revolvers, 1027 UMGs and 79 Carbines were recovered and at least 2262 RPGs have also been recovered, according to the official documents. As many as 69 GPMGs, 219 LMG/SLRs, 295 three-not-three (303) rifles, 391 Sniper Rifles and 2831 Rocket Boosters have been recovered since ‘90.
The official documents reveal that at least 70071 magazines of AK 47/56/74 Rifles, 11055 pistol/revolver magazines, 1321 UMG magazines, 150 LMG/SLR magazines, 31 Carbine magazines and 32 Telescope Rifle magazines have also been recovered.
The documents reveal that ammunition of AK 47/56/74 rifles worth Rs 39.39 lakh while ammunition of pistols/revolvers worth Rs 22060 has been recovered. The documents reveal that ammunition of UMGs worth Rs 127905, ammunition of Sniper Rifles worth Rs 46367, ammunition of three-not-three 303 Rifles worth Rs 8530, belted ammunition of worth Rs 122464 has been also recovered.
The state government further claims to have recovered at least 12938 kilograms of RDX and 32072 kilograms of other explosives. It states that as many as 6071 IEDs, 63335 grenades/hand grenades, 7567 electronic detonators and 61689 P detonators have also been recovered.

RIGHTS GROUP REJECT COUNT
Meanwhile, human rights and separatist groups have rejected the figures dished out by government.
“The government figures are totally inaccurate and misleading,” Khurram Parvez coordinator of Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) told Greater Kashmir.
He said that figures about the number of militants killed by forces are totally wrong.
“Although they claim that 21000 militants were killed here, but it is not accurate as we have seen in the past that many of the civilians killed were branded as militants by forces for getting rewards and promotion,” he said.
Hurriyat Conference (G) rejected the statistics, saying that government data has no credibility and figures are being lowered to hide the enormity of tragedy through which Kashmiris have undergone in last two decades.
“According to our figures, more than one lakh people have lost their lives and 90 percent of them were unarmed civilians,” Hurriyat (G) spokesman Ayaz Akbar said.
“We will have faith only on an assessment by any reputed international organization over this (conflict causalities),” Akbar said.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party spokesman Naeem Akthar said “unfortunately we tend to relate Kashmir tragedy and its political problem to the body count”.
“On a day when nobody is killed the problem is treated as solved but even it is just 43000 it is no small, it means 43000 households and 43000 tragedies. Unless the problem is resolved for good, statistics will only be a means to score points at the cost of human lives,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 3 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 3 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 4 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST