Why is the J&K UT administration differentiating between terror victims and on what grounds?

In both incidents, local residents lost their lives as a result of 'indiscriminate' firing by 'unidentified' terrorists

January 3, 2023

Two major incidents of terrorist violence in the last 20 days

In the last 20 days, two major incidents of terrorist violence took place in the frontier district of Rajouri.

In both incidents, local residents lost their lives as a result of ‘indiscriminate’ firing by ‘unidentified’ terrorists.

The first incident took place outside the main gate of an army camp in Rajouri where two civilians, who were running a canteen inside the army camp, were killed by unidentified terrorists on December 16, 2022.

The terror victims were identified as Shalinder Kumar and Kamal Kishore. They were both survived by their minor children and wives and were the sole bread earners of their families.

The second incident took place in the same district on day one of the New Year 2023.

In this incident, four civilians were killed by terrorists, and the next day two children lost their lives in a powerful IED blast outside the residence of one of the terror victims in Upper Dangri village of Rajouri.

On both occasions, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced an ex-gratia for the next of kin of the deceased.

Ironically an amount of Rs.5 lakh was announced for victims killed outside the Army gate while an amount of Rs.10 lakh was announced for victims killed in Upper Dangri village.

According to the tweet posted by the Office of LG Manoj Sinha on December 17, 2002, “The incident in Rajouri is very unfortunate. Condolences to the bereaved families. The price of a life cannot be set in monetary terms but still, I announce an ex-gratia relief of Rs five lakh for each affected family”.

The incident in Rajouri is very unfortunate. Condolences to the bereaved families. The price of a life cannot be set in monetary terms but still I announce an ex-gratia relief of Rs five lakh for each affected family.

— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) December 17, 2022

On December 26 Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Vikas Kundal visited the affected families of those who lost their lives in the tragic Phalyana incident and handed over ex-gratia relief sanctioned by the Lieutenant Governor.

On Jan 2, 2023, the Office of LG tweeted, ” An ex-gratia of Rs.10 lahks and a Govt job would be given to the next of kin of each of those civilians martyred in the dastardly attack. Seriously injured would be given Rs.1 lakh. Officials have been directed to ensure the best treatment to injured”.

An ex-gratia of Rs. 10 lakh and a Govt job would be given to the next of kin of each of those civilians martyred in dastardly attack. Seriously injured would be given Rs.1 lakh. Officials have been directed to ensure best treatment to injured.

— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) January 2, 2023

Why two different yardsticks for terror victims?

Now the question is in both these tragic incidents the common residents were killed by unidentified terrorists then why different yardsticks were adopted and were different amounts of ex-gratia have been sanctioned by the same UT administration?

Interestingly, the office of LG has not promised to offer a job to the next of kin of the deceased killed in Rajouri on December 16. There is no mention of said commitment even in the official tweet posted by the office of LG.

Before these two incidents, LG Manoj Sinha had visited the residence of a Kashmiri pandit Puran Krishen Bhat in Jammu to offer condolences to his family. Bhat was targeted by the terrorists outside his residence in Shopian on October 15. He personally visited the family in Jammu on November 4.

According to the tweet posted by the office of LG, ” Met the family members of martyr Shri Puran Krishan Bhat Ji at their residence in Jammu and offered my condolences. Administration to provide a permanent Govt job to his wife and every possible help to the family”.

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