1990 Killing of Kashmiri Pandit Writer Reopened: J&K Police Raid Multiple Locations
The Jammu and Kashmir Police's special cell, the State Investigation Agency (SIA), has reopened a 1990 double murder case involving a Kashmiri Pandit writer and his son. On Wednesday, searches were conducted at multiple locations in the Dooru area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district, officials said.
The case relates to the killing of Sarwanand Koul Premi, a noted Kashmiri Pandit writer, and his son Virender Koul. According to the First Information Report (FIR), their bodies were found hanging from a tree in Kokernag, Anantnag, in 1990. The exact circumstances of their deaths have remained a subject of investigation for over three decades.
The SIA, which has taken over the case from the regular police, is reinvestigating the matter. Officials said the searches were carried out at locations connected to terror suspects and their alleged support networks. However, no arrests have been reported so far, and the agency has not yet disclosed any details of evidence collected during the operation.
In a parallel operation, searches were also conducted in Rajouri district. Multiple locations in Rajouri town, Thanamandi, and Manjakote were raided in connection with cases related to terror activities and their alleged support networks, according to officials.
The searches come ahead of Independence Day and follow reported terror threats against members of the minority Kashmiri Pandit community. Security has been tightened in the region as a precautionary measure. The authorities have not confirmed any specific threat, but such operations are part of ongoing efforts to disrupt militant infrastructure and support systems.
Sarwanand Koul Premi was a well-known literary figure in Kashmiri and Hindi literature. He was among the many Kashmiri Pandits who faced violence during the insurgency that erupted in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His killing and the subsequent exodus of thousands of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley remain painful chapters in the region's history.
The reopening of this decades-old case is seen as part of a broader effort by the authorities to revisit unresolved killings from that era. In recent years, the SIA has taken up several such cases, including the murder of a Kashmiri Pandit nurse, in which raids were conducted earlier this week.
Legal experts note that reinvestigating old cases poses challenges, including the availability of witnesses and the preservation of evidence. Nevertheless, the families of victims have often demanded accountability and closure. The SIA's renewed focus on these cases is aimed at addressing those demands, though officials remain cautious about predicting outcomes.
The police have appealed to the public for any information related to the case. They have assured that all investigations will be conducted in accordance with the law and with respect for the rights of all individuals involved. Further details are awaited as the investigation progresses.
