The Hindu : When justice knocked on their doors

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 02, 2002

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When justice knocked on their doors

By Our Staff Reporter

Udhampur Dec. 1. It took more than four years for the victims of the Prankote carnage to get the much-promised relief in the form of government jobs. Justice was hard to come by for those who survived the militant attack in April 1998, which claimed 28 lives, and have been moving from pillar to post for relief ever since.

Krishan Lal and Dalip Singh almost lost their entire family. "Terrorists snatched my family members and I had lost the will to live. But I had to take care of my two minor sisters who escaped the carnage," said Dalip. "The scene of the blood-soaked, mutilated bodies of my family members still haunts me... The terrorists roasted alive my younger sister."

It was only on Saturday that Dalip and Krishan received their appointment letters from the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. "The job cannot give me back by loved ones. But certainly, it can make my will to face the hard times stronger," Dalip Singh said.

Similar was the heart-rending tale of Krishan Lal who lost his parents, two sisters and a younger brother. "It is really a historical moment for us as we feel now that there is someone to take care of us" he said, tears rolling down his eyes.

Victims of militancy from as far as Gool and Gulabgarh had gathered to receive their appointment letters. The 33-year old Mukhti has already seen the worst part of her life. She was pregnant when she learnt that her husband had been killed by the terrorists. Mohammad Sharief of Thuraal Mahore lost his parents in a terrorist attack on his house on March 29, 2001. The attack left his sister disabled for life.

Nasreen, whose husband, Abdul Hamid, a selection grade constable, was killed by terrorists at Gool on June 6, 1998, also got her appointment letter. Mr. Sayeed literally delivered justice at the victims' doorstep. All the six MLAs of Udhampur — Harsh Dev Singh, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Aijaz Ahmed Khan, Faqir Chand and Abdul Gani Malik — were involved in identifying the affected families. In all, 45 persons were given appointment letters.

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