Voices of the Silenced

By Ajaz Rashid

In an unprecedented move that shattered decades of silence, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on June 29, 2025, met with families of Kashmiri civilians who have been the forgotten casualties of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism since the 1990s. This groundbreaking initiative, supported by the Save Youth Save Future Foundation, marked a historic turning point in acknowledging the thousands of innocent Kashmiri lives lost to terrorist violence—victims whose stories had been deliberately suppressed under what officials describe as the “terror ecosystem”.

The emotional gathering in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district brought together more than 80 families whose loved ones were brutally murdered by Pakistan-backed terrorists, yet their pain remained unacknowledged for over three decades. For the first time, these families found their voices amplified at the highest levels of government, exposing the stark reality that while terrorist funeral processions were once allowed before 2019, thousands of common Kashmiris killed by terrorists remained forgotten and unacknowledged.

The Staggering Human Cost

The magnitude of Kashmir’s tragedy becomes clear through the numbers that have emerged from official records. According to government data presented in Parliament, over 21,562 terrorists were eliminated between 1990 and 2013, while 16,757 civilians and 1,425 police personnel lost their lives during the same period. More recent statistics indicate that over 40,000 people, including civilians, security personnel, and children, have fallen victim to terrorism since 1990.

The Save Youth Save Future Foundation, which has become instrumental in documenting these forgotten victims, has registered over 900 families whose relatives were killed by terrorists. According to Wajahat Farooq Bhat, the organization’s Chairman, they have directly interacted with 340 of these families, revealing a shocking truth: not a single family was approached by any previous government. These documented cases represent only Muslim families, and as Bhat emphasized, “If we consider people killed by terrorists who were working in security forces or police departments, then the figures will cross thousands”.

A New Dawn of Recognition

Lieutenant Governor Sinha’s meeting represented more than just a symbolic gesture—it marked a fundamental shift in how the victims of terrorism are acknowledged and supported. “For decades, these families were marginalised and their voices were not heard. Justice was denied. Their pain was ignored, their stories untold, and the truth deliberately suppressed,” Sinha declared during the historic gathering.

The Lieutenant Governor announced comprehensive support measures that address both immediate needs and long-term rehabilitation. Eligible family members of terror victims will receive government jobs within 30 days of submitting their applications to Deputy Commissioners. Additionally, the administration committed to providing financial assistance and business support for families seeking entrepreneurial opportunities.

Perhaps most significantly, Sinha addressed the legal injustice that had compounded these families’ suffering. In cases where FIRs were never registered for the murders of their loved ones—a shocking omission that had denied them basic legal recourse—the Lieutenant Governor promised that directions would be issued to register these cases immediately. Furthermore, action will be taken to reclaim properties belonging to victims’ families that had been encroached upon by terrorist sympathisers or separatist elements.

Exposing the Terror Ecosystem

The event served as a platform for these long-silenced families to expose the intricate web of Pakistan’s proxy war and its local supporters. Family members courageously shared their stories, countering what the Lieutenant Governor described as “decades of false propaganda” that portrayed Pakistani terrorists as victims while genuine victims common Kashmiris were ignored due to the influence of separatist outfits.

Sinha emphasized the broader geopolitical context, drawing a stark contrast between India’s rise as the fourth-largest global economy and Pakistan’s status as what he termed “the biggest beggar in the world”. While Indian youth excel in innovation and entrepreneurship, Pakistan continues to send its youth to terror training camps with the explicit aim of targeting innocent Kashmiris.

The recent Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the brutal Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 civilian lives on April 22, 2025, demonstrated India’s new resolve against cross-border terrorism. The operation successfully destroyed nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, eliminating over 100 terrorists, including those responsible for major attacks like the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and the 2019 Pulwama incident.

The Role of Civil Society

The Save Youth Save Future Foundation has emerged as a crucial bridge between the victims and the administration. Led by Chairman Wajahat Farooq Bhat and Women’s Wing President Anika Nazir, the organization has been instrumental in documenting cases and providing a platform for victims’ families to share their experiences. The foundation’s work extends beyond victim documentation to include youth engagement, women empowerment, drug de-addiction programs, and de-radicalization initiatives.

“If we consider people killed by terrorists who were working in security forces or police departments, then the figures will cross thousands,” Wajahat Farooq Bhat

The organization’s comprehensive approach has revealed the systematic nature of the injustice faced by terror victims. As Anika explained, “There are hundreds of families in Kashmir whose members have been killed by terrorists. Almost 120 families participated in yesterday’s event where they brought their grievances to the notice of LG Manoj Sinha”. The foundation’s data indicates that these families have been neglected in the past and have not received adequate financial or moral support.

“There are hundreds of families in Kashmir whose members have been killed by terrorists. Almost 120 families participated in yesterday’s event where they brought their grievances to the notice of LG Manoj Sinha,” Anika Nazir

Breaking Societal Silence

Lieutenant Governor Sinha’s call to “expose the people wearing masks in society” and to “break the society’s silence” represents a fundamental challenge to the culture of fear that had prevented open discussion about terrorism’s true victims. This initiative aims to create space for honest dialogue about the real impact of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism on ordinary Kashmiri families.

The transformation in approach is evident in recent policy changes. Home Minister Amit Shah announced in 2024 that family members of terrorists and stone-pelters would be denied government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir, while simultaneously, the administration has committed to providing employment opportunities to legitimate victims of terrorism. This policy distinction clearly delineates between those who support violence and those who have suffered from it.

Justice Long Overdue

The Lieutenant Governor’s assurance that “real culprits, whether they are in Jammu and Kashmir or hiding in Pakistan, will be given the harshest punishment” signals a new era of accountability. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the administration has committed to ensuring that these families receive the justice, recognition, and support they deserve after years of suffering in silence.

The Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims of terrorist violence provides a framework for financial compensation ranging from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, depending on the nature of the incident. However, the current initiative goes beyond monetary compensation to address the systemic neglect these families have faced.

The government’s data shows a dramatic reduction in terrorist incidents, from 228 in 2018 to just 50 in 2023, with civilian casualties dropping from 55 to merely 5 during the same period. This improvement in the security situation has created an environment where victims can finally speak out without fear.

A New Chapter

As these families finally find their voices after decades of silence, their stories serve as a powerful testament to both the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of acknowledging historical truths. The Lieutenant Governor’s initiative represents not just administrative action but a moral reckoning with the past that seeks to honor the memory of innocent victims while building a foundation for lasting peace.

The transformation from a time when terrorist funeral processions were permitted while victims remained unacknowledged, to an era where victims’ families are heard at the highest levels of government, marks a profound shift in Kashmir’s narrative. This change reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that truth prevails over the propaganda that had long obscured the real human cost of terrorism in the region.

Through this historic initiative, Kashmir’s forgotten victims are finally stepping out of the shadows, their voices no longer silenced by fear or neglect. Their courage in speaking out, supported by a government committed to justice, offers hope that the long chapter of suffering may finally be giving way to an era of recognition, healing, and peace.