Life in Jammu and Kashmir has changed so visibly and decisively that it has become deeply uncomfortable for many who once benefited from fear, instability and silence.
A region long trapped in cycles of violence and intimidation is steadily reclaiming normalcy—and that transformation, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has made clear, is not being relished by all.
Speaking in Srinagar, Sinha said that after the abrogation of Article 370, families of terror victims—silenced for decades—have finally found the courage and self-confidence to speak out openly against the terror ecosystem, without fear of reprisals.
“For generations, the system failed these families. Their suffering was ignored, their voices suppressed, and their cases pushed to the margins,” Sinha said.
“Today, we are empowering the victims, restoring their dignity, and ensuring they receive the justice, rights and recognition they were denied for decades.”
From Silence to Self-Respect
On Saturday, at Lok Bhavan in Srinagar, the Lieutenant Governor handed over government appointment letters to 39 relatives of terror victims, calling it a reaffirmation of the administration’s commitment to “justice, jobs and dignity.”
“For these families, the wait for justice has finally ended,” he said. “Concrete rehabilitation measures have renewed their faith in governance and restored their self-respect.”
Sinha underlined that terrorism in J&K was never just about killings—it destroyed families, imposed stigma, forced silence, and pushed innocent households into long-term poverty.
For years, many victims were afraid to even acknowledge their loss publicly.
That fear, he said, is now receding.
Faces Behind the Healing
Among those who received appointment letters were:
- Pakeeza Riyaz from Anantnag, whose father was killed by terrorists in 1999
- Shaista from Hyderpora, Srinagar, whose father was killed in 2000
- Ishtiyaq Ahmad, son of BSF soldier Altaf Hussain, was killed nearly 19 years ago
Their appointments were made under Compassionate Appointment Rules (SRO-43) and the Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme (RAS)—policies aimed at ensuring that victims’ families are not left behind once the headlines fade.
Why the Change Is Being Resented
Sinha’s remarks carried an unmistakable subtext: peace, development and empowerment disrupt vested interests.
Those who once thrived in chaos—politically, ideologically or financially—are unsettled by a Kashmir where victims speak freely, youth seek jobs instead of slogans, and families demand rights instead of charity.
“The fight against terrorism is not just for the security forces,” the L-G said. “It is a collective responsibility of society.
We must defeat not only the gunman, but the mindset that glorifies violence.”
Reiterating the Centre’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism, Sinha warned that anyone providing shelter, funding or moral support to terrorists would face severe consequences.
“Every available resource will be used to make J&K terrorism-free,” he said.
Rehabilitation, Not Rhetoric
According to the administration, 156 family members of terror victims have already been provided self-employment opportunities.
Thirty-six families have been identified for house reconstruction, with more cases under review.
Reconstruction of homes destroyed due to Pakistani shelling in Uri and Karnah is scheduled to begin in April.
These measures, officials say, reflect a shift from symbolic gestures to systemic, long-term rehabilitation.
A New Reality Taking Root
For ordinary Kashmiris, the change is tangible: fewer shutdowns, more opportunities, and a growing willingness to speak without fear.
For those who profited from instability, however, this emerging normalcy is deeply inconvenient.
As Jammu and Kashmir moves forward—socially, economically and politically—the contrast with its troubled past grows sharper.
And that contrast, increasingly, is what some find hardest to accept.
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