L-G Sinha hands over appointment letters to 158 kin of terror victims

On the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said in Srinagar on Tuesday that a new Jammu and Kashmir was born on August 5, 2019.

“On August 5, 2019, a new Jammu and Kashmir was born. A new Jammu and Kashmir that had dreams of a golden future in its eyes. A new Jammu and Kashmir which treated all its citizens as equal and removed discrimination that was prevalent for seven decades,” he said.

He further stated, “People ask me what is new Jammu and Kashmir. I want to tell them that the new Jammu and Kashmir is one where jobs are not given to terrorists but to the real martyrs of this UT. The new Jammu and Kashmir is one where tears are not shed on the death of terrorists but the tears of common Kashmiris are wiped away.”

He was speaking at an event where 158 kin of those Kashmiri people who were killed by terrorists were handed over appointment letters.

“The new Jammu and Kashmir is one where the terrorist elements sitting in the government system are being cleaned out one by one and the decades-old wounds of terror victim families are being healed,” he said.

On the occasion, the L-G also spoke on the transformative journey of new J&K post abrogation of Article 370.

The Lieutenant Governor observed, “Because of Article 370, terrorism had increased and the terror ecosystem was emboldened. On August 5, 2019, the dismantling of terror ecosystem had begun.”

The families of terror victims who were given appointment letters narrated their traumatic experiences. They exposed the injustice perpetrated by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists and their sympathisers against their families.

“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, terror state Pakistan is shedding innocent blood through its proxy terrorist outfits. Time did not erase the pain of loss. Invisible scars on their soul can be felt and mute eyes are witness 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 terror ecosystem that was operating in J&K,” Sinha said.

The Lieutenant Governor shared the tragic account of Abdul Majid Mir’s family, whose lives were shattered on June 29, 2004. On that day, Abdul Majid, from Sheikhpura, Baramulla, was kidnapped and brutally murdered by terrorists.

L-G Manoj Sinha observed that the void in the lives of terror victims’ families cannot be filled with financial assistance or jobs, but it would 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 terror victim families that perpetrators of heinous crime will receive exemplary punishment,” he said.

Earlier, events in which kin of terror victims were handed over appointment letters were held on July 13 at Baramulla and July 28 at Jammu.