At least 586 people were killed in Jammu and Kashmir in 2018, making it the deadliest year in the state in a decade, the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society said in its annual human rights review report on Monday.

According to the report, 160 of the 586 people were civilians, 267 militants, and 159 were members of the armed forces and the state police. Eighteen women and at least 31 children – the highest in the last decade – were among the civilian casualties.

The number of deaths of militants also touched decade-high numbers. In 2016, 145 such were deaths recorded. It rose to 216 last year.

Most civilian deaths occurred in South Kashmir as the area continued to witness a surge in violence in the aftermath of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July 2016. The four districts in the region – Kulgam, Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian – recorded 85 civilian killings, the highest across state.

At least 108 instances of internet blockade and the murder of 11 political activists in acts of targeted violence were also reported. “This year also witnessed multiple attacks on the family members of policemen, political activists and militants,” the report said.

[With inputs from scroll.in ]