Baramulla, Jul 13: Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha Sunday said that conflict entrepreneurs had ruled Jammu and Kashmir for three decades, and justice was now being delivered to the families who had remained the victims of terrorism.
Speaking at an event held for distribution of appointment letters to the Next of Kin (NoK) of terrorism victims at the north campus of Kashmir University in Baramulla, LG Sinha said, “A dangerous narrative was glamorised by the anti-national elements wherein Pakistan-based terrorists were portrayed as victims while ordinary Kashmiris, who were the victims of the terrorism were silenced for these three decades.”
He said that after waiting for three decades, justice was being delivered to the victim families who were silenced and forgotten.
The LG said that while the victims of terrorism, including innocent Kashmiri civilians and their families, were left to suffer in fear for decades, stories of their loved ones, brutally killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists, were being brought to the forefront.
“Terror victim families, forsaken and forgotten, suffered silently for decades. But I want to tell everybody that J&K is entering a new era of justice and dignity for the families of terrorism victims, who were threatened for decades,” he said.
LG Sinha said that, unfortunately, those who killed the innocent Kashmiris got government jobs while the families of the victims were left to fend for themselves.
“Everyone knows who killed innocent people in J&K. I need not repeat it here. In the past, government jobs were given to the murderers of Kashmiris, but now the work of removing them from government jobs has already begun,” he said.
The LG recalled his meeting with some victim families at Raj Bhawan seven months ago and said meeting those families was painful.
“On June 29, when I was on my way to Pahalgam to review Amarnath Yatra arrangements, I met some victim families in Anantnag where one girl told me that her father, who was an SPO, was killed while her mother had to beg for her education,” he said. “The ordeal hit me hard. After this, I took the matter to the top government officers, and it was decided that government support was the right of these victims.”
LG Sinha said that a dedicated helpline was launched on the same day, and people were asked to register.
“It was promised that it would be done within 30 days, but we made it happen within two weeks,” he said.
The LG said that the truth about these families was deliberately suppressed.
“No one came to wipe their tears. Everyone knew Pakistan-backed terrorists were involved in brutal killings, but no one provided justice to thousands of elderly parents, wives, brothers, or sisters,” he said.
LG Sinha issued a stern warning to the “conflict entrepreneurs” and asked them to stop spreading narratives that harm the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
“By propagating the narrative of terror outfits in J&K, they are disrupting the peace established with blood and sweat,” he said.
The LG said that for three decades, “conflict entrepreneurs” were ruling the roost and even threatened these families.
“These conflict entrepreneurs had cleverly crafted a singular narrative that painted India as the aggressor and terrorists as victims. This false narrative has been completely demolished. The real victims of terrorism have now exposed Pakistan and terror outfits and unmasked the conflict entrepreneurs,” he said.
LG Sinha said that appropriate action as per the law would be taken against certain elements who, at the behest of the terrorist country Pakistan, were still working to nourish the terror ecosystem.
“We will realise the dream of a terrorism-free J&K,” he said.
The LG said that the administration would reach the doorsteps of all the families who had been waiting for justice for decades, and jobs and arrangements for their rehabilitation and livelihood would be ensured.
“Thorough investigation into the cases of Kashmiri Pandits who were killed by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists will be started afresh,” he said.
LG Sinha said that J&K was scripting a golden chapter of inclusive development, peace, and social justice under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi.
“He has paved the way for efficient, transparent, and people-centric governance,” he said.
The LG said that helpline numbers had been set up in districts to register grievances of terror victims.
“We are receiving hundreds of complaints from the 1990s. In many cases, FIRs were not registered, lands were encroached, and properties were demolished. I assure the people that culprits will not be spared,” he said.
LG Sinha recalled the incident of June 9, 1992, when Wali Muhammad Lone’s son, Bashir Lone, was shot dead by terrorists while returning home from a nearby Masjid in Fatehgarh village of Baramulla.
“A year later, terrorists kidnapped Lone’s two other sons, Ghulam Mohiuddin Lone and Abdul Rashid Lone and their bodies were never found,” he said.
The LG said Raja Begum of Lilam village in Kupwara waited 26 years for justice, as in 1999, terrorists murdered her husband, Ghulam Hassan Lone, sons Javid Ahmad and Irshad Ahmad, and daughter Dilshada after they refused to shelter them.
“We stand firmly with Raja Begum and all the families of terror victims. Efforts are underway by the administration to identify all families who have suffered due to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism,” he said.
LG Sinha said that over 193 grievances were registered in Kashmir and 61 in Jammu on the newly-launched grievance cell in just a few days.
“These include cases where FIRs weren’t filed, financial aid was denied, and even properties were taken or destroyed by terrorists,” he said. “The administration is taking up the unregistered and previously rejected cases as well.”
The LG said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, J&K was scripting a golden chapter of inclusive development, peace, and social justice.
“He has paved the way for efficient, transparent, and people-centric governance,” he said.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, DGP Nalin Prabhat, Principal Secretary Home Chandrakar Bharti, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, and Chairman Save Youth Save Future Foundation Wajahat Farooq Bhat were also present on the occasion.
