New Delhi, Apr 6 (IANS): Several measures to ensure safety and security of the people from the minority communities have been taken in Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Responding to a question asked by the BJP MP Mahesh Poddar, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that a total of 34 persons belonging to the minority communities have lost their lives in the terrorist related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir during the last five years.

Rai further said that 11 persons of a minority community lost their lives in 2017, three in 2018, six in 2019, three in 2020 and 11 in 2021.

"An ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh is given under the Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims/ Family of Victims of Terrorist /Communal/ LWE Violence and Cross Border Firing and Mine/IED Blasts on Indian Territory. In addition, Rs 1 lakh is paid to the next of kin of civilians killed in the militancy related violence under the existing scheme of Government of Jammu and Kashmir," Rai further said.

He also said the government has taken several measures to ensure the safety of minorities in Kashmir.

Listing out the security measures taken by the government to ensure security and safety of minorities, the Minister said that a robust security and intelligence grid has been set up in the valley and the group security in the form of static guards, day and night area domination, round the clock checking at Nakas by the central security forces and round the clock patrolling in the vulnerable areas was being carried out in the areas where the people from the minorities reside besides proactive operations against terrorists.