India witnessed civilian deaths in terror attacks even after Narendra Modi assumed office as Prime Minister in 2014 - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
January 4, 2024
A post claiming that no civilians died in terror attacks in India since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014 is being widely shared on social media. Through this article, let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: No civilian has died in terror attacks since Narendra Modi Narendra Modi assumed office as Prime Minister in 2014.
Fact: According to information provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Parliament on various occasions, a total of 300 civilian deaths occurred due to terrorist attacks in the country from 2014 to 2022. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
Through a relevant keyword search, we found a news report by Business Standard that reported about civilian deaths in Jammu & Kashmir from 2019 to 2023. According to this report, 174 civilians have died in 761 terror attacks.
While searching for information related to the viral post, we discovered a question posed in the Rajya Sabha dated 09 August 2023, regarding terrorist attacks in the country over the last five years. In response, Nityanand Rai, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, stated that between 2018 and 2022, a total of three civilians died in terrorist-initiated incidents in various parts of the country, excluding Jammu and Kashmir. In Jammu and Kashmir during the same period, 176 civilians were killed in terrorist-initiated incidents, and 35 civilians lost their lives in counter-terrorism operations.
Additionally, we found another question raised in the Lok Sabha on 23 March 2021, concerning terrorist attacks in the country since 2014. In response, Kishan Reddy, the then Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, reported that between 2014 and 2020, a total of 11 civilians died in terrorist attacks in various parts of the country, excluding Jammu and Kashmir. In Jammu and Kashmir during the same period, 215 civilians lost their lives in terrorist attacks.
On 5 February 2019, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, responded to a question in Parliament regarding the number of terrorist incidents in the country from 2014 to 2018, along with the reported loss of life and property. According to the minister’s response, statistics revealed that between 2014 and 2018, 1,482 civilians were killed in incidents classified by the government as ‘terrorist/insurgent/extremist.’ The figures include 11 civilians killed in the hinterland, 138 in Jammu and Kashmir, 366 in the North Eastern Region, and 967 civilians killed in incidents related to Left Wing Extremism.”
Information regarding civilian deaths in terror attacks between 2000 – 2024 is also available on the ‘South Asia Terrorism Portal’. Information provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Parliament regarding deaths that occurred due to terror attacks before 2014 can be seen here, here, and here. Factly had previously debunked similar claims (here, here, and here).
To sum it up, India witnessed civilian deaths in terror attacks even after Narendra Modi assumed office as Prime Minister in 2014.