LG Sinha hands appointment letters to 39 kin of terror victims in Kashmir

LG Manoj Sinha

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday handed over appointment letters to 39 next of kin of terror victims from the Kashmir Division at Lok Bhavan in Srinagar, marking what he described as the end of a decades-long wait for justice for many affected families.

Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said terrorism had not only claimed innocent lives but also destroyed families, pushing them into years of silence, stigma and poverty. “For these families, today the long wait for justice has ended. With concrete steps for rehabilitation, we have restored their dignity and faith in the system,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor noted that behind every act of terror was a household that never recovered, and children who grew up without parents. He said that for years, real victims of terrorism were ignored while elements linked to the terror ecosystem found space within the system. “On one hand, overground workers were given government jobs. On the other hand, the families of terror victims were left to fend for themselves,” he said.

Citing individual cases, the Lieutenant Governor said Pakeeza Riyaz of Anantnag, whose father was killed in 1999, Shaista of Hyderpora, whose father was murdered in 2000, and Ishtiyaq Ahmad, son of BSF braveheart Altaf Hussain, had finally received government job letters, bringing long-awaited economic security and recognition of their loss.

He said families such as that of Dilawar Ganie and his son Fayaz Ganie of Qazigund, who were killed in 2000, and Abdul Aziz Dar of Srinagar, murdered 30 years ago, had endured decades of fear and grief. “For generations, the system failed these victims by not giving their cases the priority they deserved. We are now empowering victims’ voices and ensuring they get the rights and dignity they deserve. We are also committed to swift and fair justice for the perpetrators,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor said that since the abrogation of Article 370, terror victim families had found the courage to speak out against the terror ecosystem without fear. He reiterated that the fight against terrorism was a collective responsibility of society and urged people to remain determined and patient in foiling the designs of adversaries.

Reaffirming the administration’s stance, the Lieutenant Governor said the policy on terrorism was one of zero tolerance. “Every available resource will be used to make Jammu and Kashmir terrorism-free. Those providing sanctuary, safe haven or support to terrorists will have to pay a very heavy price,” he said, adding that the policy was being pursued under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

On the occasion, appointment letters were also handed over to beneficiaries under Compassionate Appointment Rules SRO-43 and the Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme. The administration said 156 family members of terror victims had been provided self-employment opportunities under schemes such as Mission Yuva, HADP and PMEGP. It added that encroachments had been removed from 17 properties belonging to terror victim families, 36 families had been identified for house reconstruction, and reconstruction work for houses damaged in Pakistani shelling in Uri and Karnah would begin in April.