New Delhi: If 2008 was the deadliest year of the decade in terms of killings and violence in Jammu and Kashmir, as 586 people lost their lives, the first half of 2019 has been no better. Since January, 271 killings have been recorded. This has been highlighted by the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), a federation of human rights organisations and individuals, in its first half-yearly report for 2019.

Killings peaked in February, when Pulwama happened

The organisation said 43 civilians, 120 militants and 108 Indian armed forces personnel were killed in the first six months of the year. The report also noted that the number of killings were the highest in February, at 87, while the lowest was in April, at 19.

The JKCCS said of the 43 civilians killed, 14 died at the hands of the security forces, 12 were killed by unidentified gunmen, eight died in shelling across the Line of Control and five were killed by suspected militants.