Lok Sabha Question No. 304 (STARRED), answered on 2015-08-11
Subject: Firing on Indo-Pak Border
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: RODMAL NAGAR, RAKESH SINGH

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO.†*304

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11 TH AUGUST, 2015/SHRAVANA 20, 1937 (SAKA)

**FIRING ON INDO-PAK BORDER**

†*304.	SHRI NAGAR RODMAL:

SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Pakistani security forces have been opening fire time and again at the Border Security Force Posts and villages along the international borders;

(b) if so, the details thereof including the number of security personnel and civilians killed/injured and the number of persons displaced and loss/damage to property as a result of such firings during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(c) the measures taken for the rehabilitation and payment of

compensation to the affected families;

(d) whether there are reports of infiltrations under cover of cross-border firings along the borders, if so, the details of such cases reported and infiltrators arrested during the said period; and

(e) the measures taken by the Government to check ceasefire violations at the borders and ensure the safety of the civilians at such areas?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

(SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (e):	A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*304 FOR 11.08.2015

(a) & (b) **:** Yes, Madam. Details of ceasefire violations, no. of Border Security Forces (BSF) personnel and civilians killed/injured, property damaged (houses) and persons temporarily affected, during the last three years and the current year along the International Border in J&K, are as under:-

| Year                  | Number of ceasefire violations    | Civilians   | Civilians   | Border Security Forces    | Border Security Forces    | Damage to property (Houses)   | No. of persons temporarily affected   |
|-----------------------|-----------------------------------|-------------|-------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| Year                  | Number of ceasefire violations    | Killed      | Injured     | Killed                    | Injured                   | Damage to property (Houses)   | No. of persons temporarily affected   |
| 2012                  | 21                                | 01          | 02          | 02                        | 03                        | --                            | --                                    |
| 2013                  | 148                               | --          | 19          | 02                        | 17                        | 03                            | --                                    |
| 2014                  | 430                               | 12          | 86          | 02                        | 15                        | 140                           | 2,08,000                              |
| 2015 (upto 26.7.2015) | 192                               | 03          | 20          | 01                        | 02                        | 50                            | 7,110                                 |

(c):	Ex-gratia relief to the affected families is paid by the State Government. The affected families are temporarily shifted to safer places and provided with accommodation with basic amenities along with medical aid by the State Government.

(d): There are no such specific reports in the recent past though infiltrators some time use the cover of cross border firing.

(e):	The following measures have been taken by the Government to check ceasefire violations at the borders and ensure the safety of the civilians at such areas:

(i) Proper defence preparedness (including strengthening of Nakas, field fortifications, high mast lights etc.) is ensured on the International Border.

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L.S.S.Q.NO.*304 FOR 11.08.2015

(ii) Immediate and effective retaliation by BSF Personnel is carried out to instances of unprovoked fire and ceasefire violations.

(iii) Mechanism has been instituted at Border Out Posts (BOPs) and border areas to expeditiously inform the villagers on occurrence of cross-border firing.

(iv) BSF regularly interacts with border population situated close to border and educates them not to move in vicinity of areas prone to unprovoked fire without prior information/permission of BSF.

(v) Diplomatically, India has repeatedly emphasised, including at the highest level, the need for Pakistan to uphold the sanctity of the Line of Control (LC) and abide by the ceasefire commitment of 2003 along the International Border and LC.

(vi) The affected families are temporarily shifted to safer places and accommodated by the administration at various government buildings and are provided all basic amenities like health care, drinking water, power, temporary toilet, sanitation and security.

(vii) Bullet Proof bunkers and ambulances are kept in readiness at convenient locations for evacuation of persons in case of emergency.

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