MHA tells RS minority killings in Kashmir valley peaked in 2021

The killing of people belonging to minority communities in Jammu and Kashmir was at its peak in 2021 with 11 deaths in different terrorist attacks, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stated in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

As per the data, a total of 11 people from the minority communities were killed in J-K in 2017 followed by three killings in 2018, six in 2019, three in 2020 and 11 in 2021.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai shared the data in the Upper House while responding to a question in a written reply, mentioning the killing of 34 persons belonging to minority communities, who lost their lives in the terrorist-related incidents in J-K between 2017 and 2021.

On "what measures have been taken by the government to ensure the safety of minorities in the valley", the Minister said, "The government has taken several measures to ensure the safety of minorities in the valley".

"These include a robust security and intelligence grid, group security in the form of static guards, day and night area domination, round the clock checking at Nakas while patrolling is being carried out in the areas where the minorities reside besides proactive operations against terrorists," added Rai.

Besides, the Minister said an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh is given under the Central scheme for assistance to civilian victims, family of victims of terrorist attacks, the LWE (Left Wing Extremism) violence and cross-border firing and mine, IED blasts on Indian territory.

In addition, Rai said Rs 1 lakh is paid to the next of kin of civilians killed in militancy-related violence under the existing scheme of the government of Jammu and Kashmir.

( With inputs from ANI )