The Union Home Ministry has formed a study group to examine the problems being faced by the people residing near the International Border and the line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of regular ceasefire violations by Pakistan. The group will meet people living in the border areas of Jammu & Kashmir, security forces deployed there, district administration officials and local public representatives and submit its report within two months.

Special Secretary in the Home Ministry, Rina Mitra will head the team. The principal secretary (Home) in the Jammu & Kashmir Government, the divisional commissioner of Jammu and the divisional commissioner of Srinagar are members while the joint secretary (J&K) in the Home Ministry is the member-secretary of the group.

"The competent authority has approved the constitution of a study group for considering various problems being faced by the people residing near IB and lOC in the wake of regular threats of cross border firing," an order issued by the Home Ministry on Thursday said.

The study group will prepare a detailed report of the issues being faced by the public living near IB and lOC and submit its recommendations on the remedial action that needs to be taken to address these issues, said the order. India shares a 3,323 km long border with Pakistan of which 221 km of the IB and 740 km of the lOC fall in Jammu & Kashmir. There has been a sharp increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistan in recent times. Till August 1, there were 285 violations by Pakistani forces while in 2016, the number was 228 for the entire year, according to Army figures. There were 83 ceasefire violations, one BAT (Border Action Team of Pakistan Army) attack and two infiltration bids from the Pakistani side in June in which 4 people, including 3 jawans, were killed and 12 injured. Eleven people, including 9 soldiers, were killed and 18 injured in violations in July.