Terrorists on Saturday attacked an army convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pampore, killing three soldiers and thus taking the casualties among security forces in the state this year to 87.
The year is the bloodiest for security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir since 2008 when the tension between India and Pakistan was at its peak.
In various terror-related incidents in J&K, 84 security personnel lost their live in 2016, till last week, according to terror-watch data site SATP. 90 security personnel were killed in 2008 which was marked by the heightened tension following the Mumbai terror attacks.
In 2009, the casualities in various terror-related incidents dropped to 78. In 2012, it dropped sharply to 17. In 2013, the number went up to 61 but came down steadily to 51 in 2014 and 41 in 2015.
However, the heightened tension in the relationship between India and Pakistan is visible on both diplomatic front and on borders.
In army alone, 60 soldiers were killed in J&K till December 15 this year, Defence Ministry sources said. The toll was 33 soldiers in 2015 and 32 in 2014.
Of the 60 soldiers who died this year, 23 were killed in operations at the LoC which includes ceasefire violations, counter-infiltration and BAT operations.
In 2014 and 2015, four and five soldiers died on the LoC respectively.
The casualties this year are higher due to two major terror strikes at army camps at Uri and Nagrota. While 19 soldiers were martyred in terror attack at Army base in Uri in September, 7 were killed last month when terrorist targeted army camp in Nagrota.
Terrorists have also targeted security convoys on the Pampore stretch of Srinagar-Jammu national highway that is also used to carry supplies to the Srinagar-based 15 Corps of the Indian Army.
