In a significant move towards rehabilitation and justice, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will hand over appointment letters to 250 family members of terror victims at a special ceremony today at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. The initiative is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to support those who have suffered due to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir over the past three decades.
The beneficiaries include families from North, Central, and South Kashmir who lost their loved ones to brutal attacks by terrorist organizations such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). These groups have carried out widespread violence, targeting civilians, security personnel, and government officials in an attempt to destabilize the region.
Suhail Yusuf Shah from Kupwara carries wounds that time has failed to heal. His mother and uncle were brutally killed by terrorists, and his family was shattered in an instant. “My mother was mercilessly shot in a burst-fire attack by terrorists,” recalls Shah, his voice trembling. “Even as she lay dying, my siblings and I kept saying, ‘Nothing happened, she will be okay.’ But she didn’t survive.”
For years, the families of terror victims have endured immense pain, often without adequate recognition or support. Many victims were subjected to horrific acts of violence, including public executions, mutilations, and targeted killings, aimed at instilling fear among the local population. The loss of primary breadwinners pushed numerous families into financial hardship, social exclusion, and psychological trauma.
Official sources revealed that the victims included daily wage laborers, farmers, government employees, and businessmen, ordinary citizens who were caught in the crossfire of terrorism. Their deaths left behind widows, orphaned children, and elderly parents struggling to survive.
These areas have witnessed some of the worst atrocities during the peak of terrorism in the 1990s and early 2000s. Even today, sporadic attacks continue to claim lives, leaving behind grieving families.
Since 2002, Shah and countless others like him have been left to fend for themselves. “No government ever cared to ask about our pain,” he says. “For decades, J&K’s political class played into Pakistan’s ISI hands, empowering terrorists while leaving victims to rot.” However, he expresses gratitude towards LG Manoj Sinha for his recent efforts in providing jobs and support to terror-affected families.
Fayaz Ahmad Sheikh from Sheeri Baramulla lost his father to terrorism and has since faced a relentless struggle for justice and survival. “No one can imagine our pain,” Sheikh says, his anger palpable. “Past governments mocked us with false promises and endless verifications. They made us run from office to office, only to be turned away.” “We don’t want sympathy; we want dignity,” Sheikh asserts.
A heart-wrenching account comes from a mother who met LG Sinha in Baramulla. With tears in her eyes, she narrated how terrorism snatched away her husband and son, leaving her alone to raise two grandchildren in poverty. “I have nothing left but pain,” she said. “For years, no one listened. Now, at least someone is acknowledging our suffering.”
The event at SKICC is part of a broader initiative by the Jammu & Kashmir administration to provide long-overdue justice and economic stability to terror-affected families. Earlier, on July 13, LG Sinha distributed appointment letters to 40 families in Baramulla, followed by another 80 families in Jammu on July 28.
For decades, many terror victims’ families lived in obscurity, their pain ignored by society. Some faced social ostracization due to fear of terrorist reprisals, while others struggled to make ends meet. By offering employment, the government aims to restore dignity and hope to these families.
For years, these voices were stifled, their pleas for justice ignored. Political regimes, instead of standing with the victims, allegedly played into the hands of Pakistan’s ISI, emboldening terrorists while leaving survivors to rot. The change began when young activists Wajahat Farooq Bhat, Mudasir Dar and Anika Nazir, founders of the NGO ‘Save Youth Save Future Foundation,’ decided to break the cycle of neglect. “We asked a simple question: Why is no one listening to the victims?” says Wajahat.
Their journey was not easy. Moving from village to village, they documented harrowing accounts, families living in fear, some too traumatized to speak. “Many had lost faith in the system. We had to convince them that this time, someone (LG) would listen,” says Mudasir.
Their efforts revealed a staggering truth, approximately 11,000 terror victim families exist across Jammu and Kashmir UT, with over 2,000 identified and 400 personally interviewed so far.
When Wajahat and Mudasir approached LG Sinha with these findings, they found a leader who listened, and acted. “I will go meet them at their homes. I want to hear their stories in their own words,” Sinha told them.
True to his word, on June 29, 2025, he visited terror victims in Anantnag, promising jobs and other help. The administration delivered even sooner, handing out appointment letters in a deeply emotional ceremony in Baramulla and now in Srinagar today (Tuesday).
A senior official stated, “This is not just about jobs, it’s about telling these families that their sacrifices have not been forgotten. It’s a step towards healing and rebuilding their lives.”
The violence perpetrated by groups like JeM, HM, and LeT was not just aimed at security forces but also at civilians who resisted terrorism or supported democracy.
Despite the decline in terrorism in recent years, the scars remain. The government’s latest initiative is an attempt to address the lingering wounds of terrorism.
The initiative has been welcomed by civil society groups and mainstream political parties in Kashmir. Many view it as a necessary step towards reconciliation. However, some critics argue that more comprehensive measures, such as counseling and educational support for victims’ children, should also be implemented.
The government has indicated that similar initiatives will continue in the coming months, ensuring that no victim’s family is left behind.
The distribution of appointment letters to 250 terror victims’ families is more than just a welfare measure, it is a recognition of their suffering and a commitment to their future. As Jammu & Kashmir moves towards peace and development, such initiatives play a crucial role in rebuilding trust and fostering social cohesion.
For terror victims, this is more than just employment, it’s validation. “Since the 1990s, we lived in silence, pain, and hopelessness,” said one victim. “Today, LG Sinha has lit a lamp of hope in our homes.” As the administration vows to reach every affected family, Kashmir’s forgotten victims finally see a glimmer of justice, one that had been denied for far too long.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s efforts underscore the administration’s resolve to stand with the victims of terrorism and ensure that their sacrifices are honored with dignity and justice. Today’s event at SKICC as per the officials is not just a ceremony but a milestone in Kashmir’s journey towards healing and hope.
