Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir on Wednesday said 100 militants and 43 security personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir during the first six months of this year, PTI reported.

Ahir said 16 civilians were also killed during this period and 256 incidents of violence were reported from the state. He was replying to a written question in the Rajya Sabha.

In 2017, 342 incidents of violence were reported in the state, of which 213 militants were killed. Eighty security personnel and 40 civilians were killed last year, Ahir said.

Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre informed the Lok Sabha that the Army had lost 106 personnel, including eight officers, in 2017. Ninety-eight junior commissioned officers and those of other ranks, and eight officers died in battle casualties which included ceasefire violations, firing across the Line of Control, militant attacks, landslide and mine blasts, Bhamre said.

Ahir also said the Law Commission is examining the scope and ambit of the law on sedition to ascertain under what circumstances it can legitimately be invoked, IANS reported. He said his ministry had written to the Ministry of Law and Justice to request the Law Commission to study the usage of the provisions of Section 124 A (sedition) of Indian Penal Code and suggest amendments, if any.