SHILLONG, Mar 11 (PTI): Militancy-related incidents have seen a decline in the Northeast this year, the Home Ministry said today.
The number of terror incidents has come down to 1,297 in 2009 from 1,561 in 2008, according to a Ministry of Home Affairs statement.
The number of security forces killed in 2009 is 42 as against 46 in 2008, it said. As many as 264 civilians were killed in 2009 as against 466 in 2008, while the number of extremists killed also saw a drop from 640 to 571 during the same period.
About 2,162 extremists were arrested in the region in 2009. From January 2009 to January 31 this year, the total number of terror-related incidents was 85.
Two security personnel, 12 civilians and 31 extremists were killed during this period, the statement said. As many as 149 extremists were arrested during the first month of this year, it said.
There are over 20 active militant groups in the region. A majority of them are in Manipur and Assam.
