| After the attack on Indian Parliament on December 13, 2001, Indian Army planted the Anti personnel landmines along 1800 miles India Pakistan border. This is the largest mine laying operation carried out in recent years. Shelling by India and Pakistan are common in the border villages. There are many incidents when civilians including childrean and women are killed and injured by these landmines. Hundred and thousand domestic animals are killed and injured due to these mines.
It is roughly estimated that more than 150 civilians might be killed and injured from December 2001 to July 2002. The figure is tentative, it may exceed to more than 200 and above. And this phenomena will continue for years to come.
There are three types of terrain where landmines are planted. 1) Mountainous part of Kashmir Valley, 2) Plain and fertile land of Jammu & Punjab 3) Desert of Rajasthan.
The list of civilians injured in one District of Ganganaar in Rajasthan state sent by our field researcher. (
See the attached list). This is authentic record agreed by civil administration.There are more than 18 border districts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and we can imagine, how many civilians victims shoud be?
The list pertains to only one district of Rajasthan. There are mines laid in other district of Jasilmer and Barmer and information from this districts are still awaited.
The situation may be same in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir border district. Due to lack of funds, we could not send our field researchers to go personally and collect the information.
As per the Indian Army from December 2001 to March 2002, 50 Army personnel killed and 95 injured in landmine incidents in eastern border. Between October 2001 to March 31, 2002, 61 killed and 159 wounded in mine and IEDs explosive in North East India and Jammu & Kashmir.
We are trying to collect the factual information of civilians killed and injured by anti-personnel landmines planted by Indian Army in December 2001.
We have printed the posters showing landmines and un exploded ordinance and message in Hindi, Kashmir and Ladakhi. We are arranging Mine Risk Education workshops in border villages of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan and in the Refugees.
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