Security Related Expenditure in J&K at an all time high in 2016-17
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 7, 2018
While the average number of terror related incidents in Jammu & Kashmir have decreased fivefold during the seven-year period from 2011 to 2017 compared to the period from 2004 to 2010, the last two years (2016 & 2017) have seen increased terror activity with security forces suffering the highest casualties after 2007. This is also reflected in the highest security related expenditure in 2016-17.
In terms of the number of casualties, 2016 & 2017 have proved to be the bloodiest years for security forces in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) after the year 2007. In the year 2007, security forces suffered 110 casualties in J&K. After 2007, the number of casualties was less than 80 in each of the years except  for 2016 & 2017. This has also resulted in the highest ever Security Related Expenditure (SRE) in J&K after the introduction of the scheme in 1989.
Terror related incidents on the increase in the last two years
The number of terror related incidents in J&K has significantly come down in the last seven years compared to seven-year period before that. Between 2004 & 2010, the average number of terror related incidents in J&K was 1287. The average has come down to 261 for the period between 2011 & 2017. A total of 2565 terror incidents were witnessed in 2004 while it has come down to 342 in 2017. After 2011, 2016 & 2017 are the only years when the number of such incidents was more than 300.
2016 & 2017 prove to be the bloodiest years after 2007 for the Security Forces
In the year 2004, 281 security personnel were killed in terror related incidents in J&K. The casualty figure has decreased continuously in the years following 2004 and reached 75 in the year 2008. The casualty figure remained at less than 75 till the year 2015.  The casualty figure increased to 82, in the year 2016, the highest in 10 years on account of increased terror activity. In 2017, this figure touched 80. In other words, 2016 & 2017 have proved to be bloodiest years for the security forces after 2007.
The increase in terror related activity is also evident in the casualty figure of the terrorists. Between 2011 & 2015, the casualty figure of the terrorists was about 100 or less in each of the years. In 2016, it increased to 150 and further increased to 213 in 2017. The terrorist casualty figure has crossed 200 for the first time after 2010.
Infiltration attempts & Ceasefire Violations also on the rise
The increase in terror related activity is further corroborated by the steep increase in the number of infiltration attempts across the Line of Control (LoC). From 489 such attempts in 2010, the number of infiltration attempts had come down to 121 in 2015, the lowest in seven years. In 2016, the number of such attempts more than tripled to 371 and further increased to 406 in 2017.
There has also been a steep increase in the number of ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC. The number of ceasefire violations have increased from about 44 in 2010 to 860 in 2017. However, the ceasefire violations along the international border have decreased from 430 in 2014 to 111 in 2017.
Security Related Expenditure(SRE) at an all time high
The Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme was introduced in 1989-90 and has two components. The SRE(Police) is to support the logistical requirements of the J&K Police to combat militancy in the state. The scheme provides for 100% reimbursement of expenditure by the J&K police for carriage of constabulary, honorarium of SPOs, logistical support to security forces (SFs), construction of alternate accommodation for SFs etc. The amount reimbursed in 2016-17 was Rs 1185 crore, the highest for any year so far, an indication of increased terror activity. In fact, this amount is more than the total amount reimbursed in the 4 year period between 2012-13 and 2015-16.
The other component of SRE is the SRE (Relief & Rehabilitation), which is to support the relief & rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants who have been uprooted from the valley because of militancy. It also covers relief to Kashmiri & Jammu migrants, expenditure on return & rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants, relief to next of kin (NoK) of civilians/security personnel killed in militant attacks etc. The amount reimbursed under this component also was an all time high of Rs 374.42 crore in 2016-17.
Featured Image: Terror related incidents in Jammu & Kashmir