Fatalities in cross-border firing rose in 2015: Govt to Parl

New Delhi, Feb 24: Fatalities among security personnel and civilians in cross-border firing by Pakistan registered an increase in 2015 as compared to the year before, Parliament was informed today.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, however, said there has been a "declining trend" in incidents of cross- border firing as compared to the previous year. He said that the number of infiltrators apprehended by border guarding forces increased due to continuous surveillance.

In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, Rijiju said while 13 security personnel were killed in such incidents in 2014, 21 jawans were martyred in 2015.

Also, while 150 troops were injured in cross-border firing last year, the figure for 2014 was 128. As to the casualties among civilians in the border areas, 15 of them were killed till November 20 last year while 12 lives were lost in such firing in 2014.

The injuries to civilians, however, came down to 73 last year from 88 in 2014. Last year, while 50 houses were damaged (till July 26) as compared to 140 in 2014, 7,110 people were displaced (till July 26) against 2.08 lakh the previous year.

PTI