Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, has taken laudable steps by engaging directly with families of terror victims, notably at a recent gathering in Anantnag on June 29, 2025. His commitment to reopening unresolved cases, ensuring jobs for victims’ kin, and establishing a special cell to address their grievances marks a historic shift toward acknowledging long-ignored suffering. This empathetic outreach, coupled with directives to reclaim grabbed properties and provide financial aid, reflects a resolve to deliver justice to those silenced by decades of violence.
Yet, the narrative remains incomplete. The families of those who fought terrorism alongside security forces—often branded “Ikhwanis”—continue to languish in obscurity. These individuals, many former militants who switched sides in the 1990s to counter insurgency, faced brutal retribution. Official estimates suggest over 40,000 civilian deaths since 1990, including numerous such unsung warriors whose sacrifices remain unacknowledged. Their children, frequently undereducated due to disrupted lives, struggle in a region where economic backwardness persists, with Jammu and Kashmir’s per capita income lagging at ₹1.2 lakh compared to the national average of ₹1.7 lakh in 2023-24.
The irony is profound: some who once fueled violence, including members associated with Jamaat-e-Islami’s political front, the Justice and Development Front, have rebranded as “nationalists,” forming new alliances. Meanwhile, those who remained steadfastly loyal to the nation endure poverty and neglect. The administration must pause and reflect on this disparity. A comprehensive approach to justice demands recognizing these forgotten fighters, ensuring their families receive rehabilitation, education, and economic support on par with other terror victims.
The LG’s initiative is a beacon of hope, but it must encompass all who bore the brunt of Kashmir’s turbulent history. Only by addressing these overlooked narratives can the administration truly honor the sacrifices made for peace and uphold the principles of fairness enshrined in our Constitution.
