LG Sinha Meets Families of 80 Slain Civilians in Pahalgam, Promises Recognition, Justice

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha met with over 80 families of Kashmiri civilians who were killed by militants over the past three decades. The meeting took place in Pahalgam in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

During the gathering, Sinha bowed before the assembled families and paid tribute to those civilians who, according to the government, were deliberately targeted and killed by militants supported and trained across the border. He said that for too long, the pain of these families had been ignored, their stories suppressed, and justice delayed. He acknowledged that the prevailing narrative in the Valley had, until recently, allowed space for terrorist sympathisers while the families of victims remained neglected.

Referring to the situation before 2019, the LG noted with dismay that funeral processions for militants were permitted while the deaths of ordinary Kashmiri civilians went unrecognised. He said the government’s present approach seeks to reverse that history and bring the truth to light. Sinha stated that the families were now being given strength and institutional support to speak openly and share how their loved ones were killed by Pakistani terrorists.

The Lieutenant Governor announced that in cases where First Information Reports had never been filed, district administrations would now be instructed to register them. He added that action would also be taken to recover land and properties of terror victims’ families that have been encroached upon by separatist elements or militant sympathisers. Besides, he urged families entitled to government jobs to submit their claims to the concerned Deputy Commissioners, assuring them that the appointment process would be completed within a month. Families wishing to start their own businesses would also receive financial assistance and administrative support.

Sinha said the Government of India had launched this initiative not just to extend support to the affected families, but also to expose what he called the “terror ecosystem” that operated for decades in Kashmir. He said that the ecosystem worked to distort public perception, glorify terrorism, and suppress the voices of actual victims. “We must break this silence in our society,” he said, “and expose those who wore masks and committed or supported atrocities.”

More than 40,000 people, including children, civilians, and members of the security forces, have lost their lives in terrorism-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since 1990.

Families who spoke at the Pahalgam event said they had long been denied space to narrate their experiences, while a false narrative was promoted that portrayed militants as victims and security forces as aggressors. They said their suffering was made invisible due to the influence of separatist networks and sympathisers, both inside Kashmir and beyond.

The Lieutenant Governor also addressed broader geopolitical issues, saying that while India today ranks among the world’s top economies, Pakistan was struggling to provide for its citizens. He criticised Pakistan’s ongoing recruitment of youth into militant ranks, contrasting it with India’s emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship. Referring to recent anti-terror operations in the region, including Operation Sindoor, Sinha warned that any future misadventure from across the border would be met with a strong response.

Sinha said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the administration would ensure that the affected families finally receive justice, recognition, and support. He added that the security establishment remains committed to tracking down and punishing those responsible, whether they reside in Kashmir or across the Line of Control. “Your culprits will not be spared,” he assured the families, noting that the time for silence was over.

The Pahalgam meeting came two months after a terrorist attack in the same region, which killed 25 tourists and a local resident. The attack prompted a renewed focus on security, but the administration now says that focus must also include acknowledging the experiences of victims’ families.