LG Sinha Hands Jobs to 39 Families of Terror Victims
KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Dec 13:
In a significant step towards restoring justice, dignity and economic security to families shattered by terrorism, Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha on Saturday handed over appointment letters to 39 Next of Kins (NoKs) of terror victims from the Kashmir Division. The ceremony was held at Lok Bhavan, Srinagar, marking what the Lieutenant Governor described as the end of a “long and painful wait for justice” for dozens of families who had lived for decades in grief, fear and neglect.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor reaffirmed the administration’s unwavering commitment to ensuring justice, rehabilitation and dignity for families whose loved ones were brutally killed by terrorists. He said that terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir not only claimed innocent lives but also destroyed entire households, pushing families into prolonged silence, social stigma and economic hardship.
“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,” the Lieutenant Governor said. He noted that behind every act of terror lies a story of a home that never healed and children who grew up without the protection and guidance of their parents.
Several family members present at the event narrated harrowing accounts of the violence they had endured and the decades-long trauma they suffered without institutional support. Many said that the government’s intervention had finally given them hope and recognition as genuine victims of terrorism.
Citing individual cases, the Lieutenant Governor referred to Pakeeza Riyaz of Anantnag, whose father Riyaz Ahmed Mir was killed by terrorists in 1999, and Shaista from Hyderpora, Srinagar, whose father Abdul Rashid Ganai was murdered in 2000. Both women received government appointment letters, bringing an end to years of uncertainty and struggle for economic stability.
Ishtiyaq Ahmad, son of BSF braveheart Altaf Hussain who was martyred nearly 19 years ago during a terrorist encounter, also secured a government job. The appointment, the Lieutenant Governor said, was a tribute to the supreme sacrifice of a soldier and a step towards supporting a family that had endured immense hardship for nearly two decades.
The Lieutenant Governor also spoke about the case of Dilawar Ganie and his son Fayaz Ganie of Qazigund, who were brutally murdered on February 4, 2000. Fayaz’s young daughter, Fozy, lost both her father and grandfather in a single day. “Two generations of support were snatched away from her. The home that once echoed with warmth and laughter was reduced to silence and fear for 25 long years,” he said, adding that justice had finally reached the family.
Recalling another decades-old tragedy, the Lieutenant Governor mentioned Abdul Aziz Dar of Srinagar, who was killed by terrorists 30 years ago. “Today marks the end of his family’s prolonged struggle for justice,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor observed that for a long time, the pain and trauma of terror victim families were ignored by the system. “Real victims of terrorism and true martyrs were hounded by elements within the terror ecosystem. On one hand, Over Ground Workers were rewarded with government jobs, while on the other, the NoKs of terror victims were left to fend for themselves,” he said.
He asserted that after the abrogation of Article 370, terror victim families have found new courage and confidence to speak out against the terror ecosystem without fear. “For generations, the system failed these victims by not giving their cases the priority they deserved. We are now empowering their voices, ensuring their rights and delivering the justice they are owed,” he said, while assuring swift and fair action against the perpetrators of terror crimes.
Calling for collective responsibility, the Lieutenant Governor said that the fight against terrorism is not the task of the security forces alone but of society as a whole. “We must pledge to fight this scourge with determination and patience and foil the designs of our adversary,” he said.
Reiterating the government’s firm policy, the Lieutenant Governor said, “Our approach towards terrorism is unequivocal—zero tolerance in all its forms. Under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Hon’ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, every available resource will be used to make Jammu and Kashmir terrorism-free. Those providing sanctuary, safe havens or any form of support to terrorists will have to pay a very heavy price.”
On the occasion, appointment letters were also distributed to beneficiaries under the Compassionate Appointment Rules (SRO-43) and the Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme (RAS). The administration informed that 156 family members of terror victims have been provided self-employment opportunities under schemes such as Mission Yuva, the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP).
Additionally, 17 encroachments have been removed from properties belonging to terror victim families, while 36 families have been identified for house reconstruction. The Lieutenant Governor said more families will be included as the process continues. He also announced that reconstruction work for houses destroyed due to Pakistani shelling in Uri and Karnah will commence in April.
The event was attended by Special DG Coordination PHQ Shri S.J.M. Gillani; Principal Secretary Home Shri Chandraker Bharti; Commissioner Secretary GAD Shri M. Raju; Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Shri Anshul Garg; IGP Kashmir Shri V.K. Birdi; Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Shri Akshay Labroo; Chairman, Save Youth Save Future Foundation Shri Wajahat Farooq Bhat, along with senior officials, members of social organisations and families of terror victims.
