In the annals of Jammu and Kashmir’s modern history, few stories are as gut-wrenching and enduring as those of the victims of terrorism-innocent men, women, and children who paid the price for a geopolitical conflict they had no part in creating. For decades, the Valley and surrounding regions lived under the oppressive shadow of terror, where the diktat of gun-wielding extremists and separatist ideologues overrode law, democracy, and humanity. The scars left behind by these years of bloodshed are not just physical-they are deeply psychological, generational, and institutional. It is in this context that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s recent initiative to provide Government jobs and formal recognition to the families of terror victims stands as a watershed moment. For the first time in decades, the J&K has openly acknowledged the pain of those whose lives were shattered by terrorism and committed to rebuilding their futures.
No one can deny that for more than three decades, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a breakdown of law and order unprecedented in post-independence India. In this vacuum, terrorists and their sympathisers flourished. They committed horrific atrocities-targeted killings, mass shootings, forced marriages, kidnappings, extortion, and the ruthless silencing of dissent. Minority communities were systematically persecuted. The brutal exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from their homeland, driven by threats and murder, remains one of the darkest chapters in Indian democratic history. But even the majority community was not spared-anyone who refused to toe the line of extremists was branded a traitor and often met with violent retribution. Shutdown calendars became a way of life. Entire months were lost to enforced strikes and curfews. A single incident, often trivial or manufactured, could set the Valley ablaze for weeks. Children grew up not in classrooms but in a culture of fear and propaganda. Successive Governments, for various political reasons, engaged in dialogues with separatists and even with Pakistan-backed terror groups-yet these talks led nowhere. They brought neither peace nor justice.
It was only after 2019, under the leadership of Prime Minister NarendraModi, that a comprehensive, unapologetic policy shift took place. Talks were replaced by action. Article 370 was abrogated, and the erstwhile state was reorganised into two Union Territories. A coordinated effort between intelligence agencies, the military, and the civilian administration was launched to dismantle the terror ecosystem. The results speak for themselves. Stone pelting is a thing of the past, hawala networks funding terrorism have been exposed and dismantled, and known separatists are behind bars. Most importantly, for the first time in decades, a sense of normalcy and peace is beginning to return to the Valley. Infrastructure projects like railway connectivity, new roads, and digital services are transforming everyday life.
However, amid this larger strategy of counter-insurgency and development, one group remained unheard-the victims of terror. These are the survivors who lost their loved ones, homes, and livelihoods to the bullets and bombs of extremists. They were silenced not only by the gun but also by a narrative that glorified terrorism and demonised the State. For decades, no one asked about their pain; no compensation came, and no recognition followed. Worse, in many cases, the perpetrators of their suffering found positions of power or sympathy under previous regimes.
Now, that narrative has been upended. The initiative to identify and compensate these victims is revolutionary not just administratively, but also morally and politically. Families who had lived in the shadows-ignored, marginalised, and traumatised-are now finally being heard. The appointment letters handed to members of 40 such families are a symbol of India’s democratic resilience, a testament to the fact that the J&K is not blind to suffering. These measures also send a powerful message to those who still nurse sympathies for the terror ecosystem. There is no place for radicalism, and there will be no rehabilitation for those who killed and maimed innocents. Instead, it is the real victims-like Raja Begum, who lost four members of her family for refusing to shelter terrorists-who will now be protected, honoured, and integrated into the mainstream.
Rehabilitation of terror victims is not merely an act of welfare-it is a foundational pillar for long-term peace and the rule of law. Every family compensated, every child of a slain civilian given a job, and every old case investigated thoroughly chips away at the culture of impunity that sustained terrorism for decades. It helps build trust in the system, erodes fear, and encourages the return of displaced communities. The formation of special grievance cells and helplines to collect complaints from the 1990s onwards is a remarkable step forward. Verification and documentation of these cases are not easy tasks, but they are essential to creating a transparent and accountable framework for justice. These initiatives pave the way for the possible return of Kashmiri Pandits and other displaced communities, a goal long sought but never realised.
Every act of justice served is a brick laid in the foundation of a new Kashmir-free from fear, cleansed of radical ideology, and rooted in the rule of law. However, much remains to be done. Thousands of complaints have poured in, representing a shattered family, a ruined life, or a stolen childhood. Verification must be meticulous, and justice must not be delayed. Simultaneously, the administration must ensure that this outreach does not remain a one-off event but becomes part of a sustained policy of rehabilitation and remembrance.
Financial compensation, job appointments, educational scholarships, psychological counselling, and social reintegration must all be part of a holistic approach. Public memorials and documentation centres could serve as reminders of what was lost-and what has been rebuilt. For too long, the silence of the victims was exploited by those who thrived on chaos and confusion. That silence is now being broken. The ball has been set rolling. The journey may be long, but with political will, administrative commitment, and public support, a new era of justice and reconciliation in Jammu and Kashmir is not just possible-it is inevitable.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
