New Delhi: 2014 has been the bloodiest of the last four years for civilians along the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir with 13 people killed in ceasefire violations by Pakistan till the beginning of this month.
Statistics given by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Rajya Sabha show 17 civilians have been killed due to firing by Pakistani troops with the highest being this year.
While there was no civilian casualty in 2011 and 2013, four were killed in 2012.
The highest number of killing of security personnel took place last year with 12 because of the ceasefire violations and other incidents.
Five security personnel have been killed so far this year. Parrikar said government has repeatedly emphasized, including at the highest level, the need for Pakistan to uphold the sanctity of the Line of Control and abide by the ceasefire agreement of 2003 along the International Border and Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
All ceasefire violations are taken up with Pakistan military authorities at appropriate level through the established mechanism of hotlines, flag meetings and weekly talks between the Director Generals of Military Operations, he said.
