88% drop in stone-pelting in J&K compared to 2019: Govt data

Ground Report | New Delhi: 88% drop in stone-pelting in J&K The incidents of stone-pelting in Jammu and Kashmir have come down drastically as compared to 2019. Heavy security forces are present in the Union Territory since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. 

88% drop in stone-pelting in J&K

According to the data of the Union Home Ministry, the incidents of stone-pelting between January and July have declined by 88 percent as compared to 2019. In the year 2019, there has also been a decline of 84 and 93 percent in the incidents of injuries to security forces and civilians as compared to the same period.

The data says that there were 618 stone-pelting incidents in the Valley during January-July 2019. This figure was 222 in the same period in 2020. Whereas in 2021 it remained only 76. Injuries to security forces also came down from 64 in 2019 to just 10 in 2021. The biggest reduction is in the incidents of injuries to civilians due to pellet guns and lathi charges. It came down from 339 in 2019 to 25 in 2021.

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178 OGWs arrested

At the same time, the incidents of arrest of Over-Ground Workers (OGWs) of Militant groups have increased in the period from January to July. In 2019 it was 82, while in 2021 it was 178.

Before and after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, the number of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir has increased significantly. There was a total lockdown situation in the union territory for a long time and all the big politicians were taken into custody.

Following the decision, mobile telephony remained suspended in the region for 72 days, while 4G internet was restored only after 18 months in February this year. Although some forces have been withdrawn, there is a heavy presence of security forces in the area.

No govt job, no passport clearance

Recently, the Jammu and Kashmir administration issued an order that those found involved in stone-pelting incidents will not get passport and security clearance for government jobs from the police.

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The CID’s special branch Kashmir has directed all units to deny security clearance to those involved in law and order threats, stone-pelting, and other crimes prejudicial to the state’s security. All digital evidence and police records will be taken into account.

“All the field units of CID SB-Kashmir are hereby directed to ensure that during verification related to passport, service and any other verification related to Government services/schemes, the subject’s involvement in law & order, stone-pelting cases and other crime prejudicial to the security of the state be specifically looked into and same must be corroborated from local police station records,” according to a circular issued by the Criminal Investigation Department, Special Branch-Kashmir.

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