Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today disclosed that in all, 363 militants, including 246 foreigners, and 71 civilians were killed during the last two years in the state.

In all, 176 militants and suspects were also arrested in the state during the same period. The civilians were either killed by ultras or they lost their lives due to cross-firing at the encounter sites.

“In all, 363 militants, including 117 locals and 246 foreigners, were killed during operations in 2016 and 2017,” Mehbooba, who holds the portfolio of the Home Department, said in a written reply to a question by BJP legislator Sat Paul Sharma in the Assembly.

The number of local and foreign militants killed in 2016 was 31 and 119, respectively, while 86 local militants and 127 foreign militants were gunned down by security agencies during 2017, she added.

“At least, 20 civilians lost their lives in 2016 while the number was 51 in 2017,” she said, adding, “79 militants or suspects were arrested in 2016 and 97 in 2017”.

Read also: Kashmir – A Place of Stone Pelters

About the recovery of arms and ammunition from militants, the CM said, “391 AK rifles, 182 pistols/revolvers, 11 RPG/RL, 3 sniper rifles, .303 rifles, 1,136 magazines of AK rifles, 148 of pistol/revolver, two of LMG/SLR, 39 IEDs and 638 grenades, 1,114 detonators, 100 wireless sets and 18-kg explosives have been recovered.”

In reply to another query, Mehbooba said, “A total of 3,773 FIRs had been registered against stone throwers in the state during the last two years in which 11,290 persons were arrested and later bailed out.”Meanwhile, the CM, in a written reply to a question of Independent MLA Engineer Rasheed, said her government on the basis of the recommendations of a committee approved the withdrawal of 1,745 cases, pertaining to 2008-17, involving 9,730 persons/youth subject to the furnishing of an undertaking by their parents or guardians that the accused would not indulge in any unlawful activity in future.

Asked about her government’s intention to grant amnesty to political or jailed prisoners, she said, “The prisoners are categorised as convicts, undertrial and detenues, whose custody is regulated in accordance with the legal provisions. Further, the government reviews, from time to time, the cases of preventive detentions under the provisions of the J&K Public Safety Act.”