7 terror victims found a mention in Modi, Omar speeches at Z-Morh tunnel inauguration. Their families hope for a little more

Among the seven was Dr Shahnaz Ahmad, a doctor for the tunnel workers. He was Mohsin’s father and Irfan’s brother; both men were unable to attend the tunnel inauguration.

“We were in Delhi preparing for civil services when we got a call from the CID (Criminal Investigation Department). An official said we may be invited to the inaugural function and asked if we could attend,” said Irfan. The next day, they took a bus to Srinagar, but when they arrived and contacted the local police and the company their father worked for, they were told there were limited passes for the event and that they could not be accommodated, he said.

On the government’s response after his father’s killing, Mohsin said, “I am happy they fulfilled almost all their promises. The government gave Rs 6 lakh compensation and a job on compassionate grounds.” Irfan, however, wondered why their family got Rs 6 lakh while the kin of others killed in militant attacks usually get more.

The 52-year-old doctor was working with APCO Infratech, which had been constructing the Sonamarg tunnel, since 2018. He was survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter – who got married just a week before his death – and two brothers who were dependent on him after their father’s death.

‘Papa didn’t call’

Also among the seven killed when militants opened indiscriminate fire at the workers’ camp in Ganderbal district was Shashi Abrol (45), a senior engineer with APCO Infratech.

Ruchi, his wife, says she and their two children still haven’t come to terms with his loss.

“December 31 was my nine-year-old daughter’s birthday. At night, she told me that papa did not call even when everybody else in the family wished her happy birthday,” Ruchi said. Their son is in his first year of engineering in a college in Bhopal, while their daughter is in class 4 in a private school in Jammu.

The L-G, politicians, bureaucrats and senior police officers had visited the to offer condolences following Abrol’s killing. “As he was the sole breadwinner, they assured all help, including a government job for me,” recalled Ruchi, whose educational qualifications include an M.Com and a B.Ed.

The family got Rs 20 lakh after Abrol’s death – Rs 15 lakh from the company and Rs 5 lakh from the UT administration. She deposited the money in a savings account and has been withdrawing a little each month to run the household.

However, she has not received a job so far, and is trying to meet the L-G to expedite the process.

‘No relief from state’

Two of the seven killed at the camp in October were friends, Mohammed Kalim and Mohammed Haneef, from Bihar’s Madhepura district.

Kalim was from Hanuman Nagar Chaura while Haneef was a resident of Laho village. “Three months have passed, but no central or state government representative has approached us for any help. The tunnel construction company paid Rs 15 lakh compensation to both families,” said Mohammed Shamsheer Alam, Haneef’s brother.

Alam, a daily wage labourer, said that while the compensation money provided some relief, “the state government should have a system in place to provide at least a contractual job to victims’ families.”

Haneef and Kalim were friends and had left for Kashmir in March last year after an acquaintance pointed them to the opportunity.

They worked as painters and sent money back home. Haneef had booked his ticket to return home for his daughter’s wedding, which is now scheduled for later this year.

Kalim’s wife Shabnam said, “We had never wanted Kalim to leave Bihar for work. The state government should be sympathetic and give us a job.”