‘I once thought my father’s sacrifice was forgotten’
Srinagar, Aug 05: Emotional scenes unfolded at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) on Wednesday as the next of kin (NoKs) of civilian terror victims shared their stories of loss, struggle and survival during a function where Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha handed over appointment letters to eligible beneficiaries.
Among those who spoke was Junaid Malla, whose father, a Special Police Officer (SPO), was killed by terrorists when he was just two years old.
Recalling his childhood, Junaid as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said his family spent nearly 25 years without any support. “I grew up seeing only hardships. No institution or person ever came forward to help us. There wasn’t even a small ray of hope,” he said.
Junaid said there was a time when he questioned whether his father’s sacrifice had any meaning. “I used to tell my mother that my father sacrificed his life for the nation, but his sacrifice had gone in vain. My mother would always say that one day someone would come and give us justice, but I never believed it,” he said.
He said his family’s life changed after they were rehabilitated on August 5, 2025.
“Today, I proudly call myself the son of a martyr. Earlier I felt my father’s sacrifice had been forgotten, but today I feel proud. We have finally received dignity and respect in society,” he said.
Thanking Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, he said, “He recognised the sacrifices of martyrs’ families and made us feel we are not alone. He stood with us like a family.”
Another beneficiary, whose brother was killed by terrorists in 2018, said the family went through immense hardship after the incident.
“After my brother was martyred, our family suffered a lot. Several family members fell ill and life became extremely difficult. Last year, on August 5, our family was rehabilitated. We are thankful for the support,” the beneficiary said.
Another person whose father was killed by terrorists in 1996 said her family spent decades struggling after the attack.
“My father was martyred in 1996. Since then, we have lived through pain and hardship. We never imagined we would receive justice after so many years. The rehabilitation has given our family a new beginning,” he said.
Notably, the function witnessed several emotional moments as beneficiaries narrated how terrorism had changed their lives forever, with many saying the rehabilitation and government jobs had restored hope, dignity and confidence after years of suffering. (KNO)
