According to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) data, more than 80% of the terrorists killed in the Kashmir Valley this year were local.
The CRPF is one of the largest central forces deployed in the Valley for counter-insurgency operations along with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Army.
According to a CRPF official, 148 terrorists have been killed so far this year till November 23, of which 127 were local and 21 were foreigners. The number of terrorists killed in the Valley in 2020 was 195.
The official said that 199 terrorists are active in the Valley.
“Of the active terrorists, 110 are local and 89 are foreigners,” he said.
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Another official said that out of the active terrorists, 97 were recruited this year in the fold of various terror groups like The Resistance Front (TRF). Police say the TRF, which has claimed responsibility for recent civilian killings in the Valley, is a front for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). At least 178 people joined terror ranks in 2020, of whom 121 were killed. The number of such recruitment in 2019 was 117.
Jammu and Kashmir is under central rule since June 2018. In August, 2019, Parliament read Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, downgraded and bifurcated the former state into two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
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The CRPF has deployed around 65,000 personnel in Jammu and Kashmir. The force has also increased the compensation for the next of kin of those killed in action.
“The amount has been increased from ₹21.5 lakh to ₹35 lakh for the next of kin of those killed in action and from ₹16.5 lakh to ₹25 lakh for those who died of other causes,” the official said. ,
This compensation is provided from the CRPF’s Risk Fund and the Central Welfare Fund. While all CRPF personnel contribute Rs 500 each to the Risk Fund, the contribution to the Central Welfare Fund depends on the rank of the officer.
CRPF has about 3 lakh jawans. 11 CRPF personnel have been martyred in action this year – three in Jammu and Kashmir and eight in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas.
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