In a significant step towards addressing the grievances of families affected by terrorism, Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha of Jammu and Kashmir has spearheaded an initiative to provide government jobs and reopen long-pending cases. This move aims to deliver justice, restore dignity, and ensure economic rehabilitation for those who have suffered due to terrorist activities in the region.
On Sunday, July 13, 2025, LG Sinha distributed appointment letters to 40 individuals from terror-affected families at a public event in Baramulla. He announced that the administration will reinvestigate all unregistered cases involving terror victims and return confiscated properties to their rightful owners after thorough investigations. Many families, despite being eligible, had been denied government jobs and financial aid for years, a situation the current administration is determined to rectify.
During the event, LG Sinha shared his emotional experiences of meeting with terror-affected families in Anantnag. He noted that many eligible individuals had been overlooked for government support, which he emphasized was their right. The administration has resolved to offer jobs to eligible family members and provide financial assistance to those who have not yet received it. Furthermore, they plan to create self-employment opportunities for these families.
In a landmark decision, LG Sinha announced that cases where First Information Reports (FIRs) were not registered or properties were confiscated without due process would be reopened and reviewed. The government will investigate these cases, and properties will be returned to the families wherever justified.
To streamline the process, dedicated helpline numbers have been activated in every district, and LG Sinha has urged affected families to contact these helplines to submit applications for review and assistance. Senior officials, including the Home Secretary of J&K, are personally monitoring the implementation of these measures.
LG Sinha has emphasized that this initiative is not merely an administrative task but a moral responsibility. He has also issued a stern warning to those who spread divisive narratives that mirror the ideology of terror outfits, reminding them that such propaganda has led to tragic losses of innocent lives in the past. He has also vowed to take action against those who misused the SRO-43 scheme in the past, ensuring accountability and justice for the real victims of terror.
This initiative builds upon earlier directives from LG Sinha, who on July 1, 2025, instructed Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to prioritize the reopening of cases that were deliberately ignored or buried, file FIRs, and ensure that government jobs are provided to the next of kin of terror victims. He also directed the authorities to free properties and lands of terror victim families that had been grabbed by terrorists or their sympathizers.
Furthermore, LG Sinha announced the establishment of a Special Cell in the LG Secretariat to address the concerns of terror victim families. A similar cell will also be set up in the Chief Secretary's office. The administration has pledged to provide every possible assistance to terror victim families and bring to justice those culprits who have roamed free for many decades.
