73 Soldiers Killed in Kashmir This Year So Far

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Sept 25: At least 73 soldiers were killed in violence related incidents in the restive Kashmir this year so far. The overall violence has witnessed a downward trend by over 30 percent.

According to official data compiled by the Indian security agencies in Kashmir, as many as 389 persons died in the militancy related incidents in the first eight months this year as against 527 deaths last year for the same period.

The civilian killings fell from 140 last year to 55 this year by August end.

Similarly, as against 72 police, para-military and army personnel killed in Kashmir in first eight months of 2007, 73 were killed this year.

The militant killings have also dropped from 315 to 216 this year.

The data further said that 34 persons, including three civilians, five security men and 26 militants were killed in January this year followed by 38 killings in February including five security men and 34 militants.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.

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