New J&K born on Aug 5, 2019: LG
Srinagar, Aug 5: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said that the dismantling of the terror ecosystem had begun on August 5, 2019, and a new Jammu and Kashmir was born.
Handing over appointment letters to 158 Next of Kin (NoK) of civilians killed by terrorists during the past three decades, LG Sinha spoke on the transformative journey of the new J&K post abrogation of Article 370.
He said that terrorism had increased and the terror ecosystem was emboldened due to Article 370. “On August 5, 2019, a new J&K was born, a new J&K that had dreams of a golden future in its eyes, a new J&K which treated all its citizens as equal and removed discrimination prevalent for seven decades. People ask me what is new J&K. I want to tell them that the new J&K is one where jobs are not given to terrorists but to the real martyrs, the new J&K is one where tears are not shed on the death of terrorists but the tears of common Kashmiris are wiped away, the new J&K is one where the terrorist elements sitting in the government system are being cleaned out one by one, the decades-old wounds of terror victim families are being healed, the new J&K is one where common Kashmiris are being embraced not the separatists, the new J&K is one where children have pens in their hands not stones,” the LG said.
He called upon every section of the society to rise against terrorism.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has drawn a new red line against terrorism, and equal punishment will be given to terrorists and their sponsors. India has made it clear that if terror is state policy, it will be met with a visible and forceful response. Peace is a prerequisite for progress. There is no place for terrorism in a civilised society. Many generations of J&K have suffered the brunt of terrorism perpetrated by the neighbouring country. Every person has to take a pledge that they will not allow this to happen again,” LG Sinha said.
He also commended the administrative and Police officials for addressing the issues and grievances of terror victim families with utmost sensitivity and sincerity.
“Following the historic events on July 13 in Baramulla and July 28 in Jammu, today’s event marks another milestone. It reaffirms the commitment of the Government of India and the J&K administration to deliver justice to victims of terrorism. Today, a total of 158 Next of Kin (NoK) of terror victim families received their appointment letters in Srinagar. The remaining will soon be handed over the appointment letters at their respective district headquarters. This process will continue till every genuine case is settled. J&K administration has developed a web portal to streamline and expedite the process of providing relief, compassionate appointments, and other forms of assistance to those who have suffered from terrorism in J&K. Helplines have also been established at the district and divisional levels,” the LG said.
He said that the families of terror victims narrated their traumatic experiences and exposed the injustice perpetrated by terrorists and their sympathisers against their families.
LG Sinha paid his heartfelt tribute to the killed civilians and saluted the courage and perseverance of families who have suffered from terrorism in J&K.
“Wounds that have persisted for decades are now being healed. Today's landmark event provided a sense of closure to the families who have silently suffered trauma for years. For more than three decades, the terror state Pakistan has been shedding innocent blood through its proxy terrorist outfits. Time did not erase the pain of loss. Invisible scars on their souls can be felt, and the mute eyes are witnesses to many unfulfilled dreams. The long wait for justice and for healing to begin is over for the terror victim families. They have come out to reveal the role of Pakistani terrorists and the terror ecosystem that was operating in J&K,” he said.
The LG shared the tragic account of Abdul Majid Mir’s family, whose lives were shattered on June 29, 2004.
“On that day, Mir, from Sheikhpura, Baramulla, was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists. Mir’s family lost their sole breadwinner and received Rs 1 lakh as an ex-gratia payment under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme. Despite Mir's martyrdom, his family struggled to live a life of dignity. Today, by providing a government job to his son, Mudasir Majid, the administration has fulfilled its long-overdue responsibility,” he said.
LG Sinha said that after three decades of hardship, justice had also finally been delivered to Suhail Majeed and his family.
“Today, Suhail, a resident of Anantnag, received an appointment letter for a government job. His father, Abdul Majeed Wani, was shot dead by Pakistan-backed terrorists on August 30, 1994. Justice has been finally delivered to the family after 31 years,” he said.
The LG said that on February 24, 2000, SPO Manzoor Ahmad Rather of Warpora, Baramulla, was also killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists.
“For 25 years, his family received no compensation. Today, his son Khurshid Ahmad Rather has received an appointment letter. The traumatic period for the family is finally over,” he said.
LG Sinha said that for Parvez Ahmad Dar, the path to justice was painful.
“On July 6, 1996, terrorists killed his father, Ghulam Qadir Dar. On July 30, 2004, his brother, Aijaz Ahmad Dar, was also killed by terrorists. Twenty-nine years after his father’s death, Parvez’s nightmare is over,” he said.
The LG said that the void in the lives of terror victims’ families cannot be filled with financial assistance or jobs, but it will be ensured that these families can live with dignity.
“We will do everything possible for the rehabilitation of terror victims. It is my promise to the NoK of terror victim families that perpetrators of heinous crimes will receive exemplary punishment. We will also ensure the harshest possible punishment to terror sympathisers. I assure the family members of civilian martyrs that I will not rest until every family that has been a victim of the terrorists' atrocities gets justice. I want to tell the loved ones of martyrs that the dreams of your father or your mother will now be fulfilled,” he said.
Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo; Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat; Principal Secretary Home, Chandraker Bharti; Commissioner Secretary GAD, M Raju; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri; IGP Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdi; Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo and SSP Srinagar, G V Sundeep Chakravarthy were also present on the occasion.
