NEW LEADS IN 1990 DOUBLE MURDER CASE

NEW LEADS IN 1990 DOUBLE MURDER CASE

13-AUG-ENG 7

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

DELHI--------------------------A significant development occurred on Wednesday in the investigation of a high-profile double murder case from 1990. The Special Investigation Agency (SIA) of the Jammu & Kashmir Police conducted simultaneous searches at nine locations in connection with the killing of Kashmiri Pandit poet and scholar Sarwanand Kaul 'Premi' and his son, Virendra Kaul. According to an IANS report, this action relates to FIR 45/1990, originally registered at the Duru police station in Anantnag and now being investigated by the SIA. This move in a case dating back over three decades has brought the investigation back into the spotlight. [1]

Sarwanand Kaul 'Premi' and his son Virendra Kaul resided in Sof Shali village in the Kokernag area of ​​Anantnag. In 1990, both were abducted from their home. Subsequently, they were tortured and shot dead; their bodies were later found hanging from a tree. This incident was among the most horrific events during that era of terror in the Valley. It sparked deep concerns regarding safety within the Kashmiri Pandit community and highlighted the grim reality of the violence prevailing at the time.

The SIA raids are now aimed at uncovering potential clues linked to individuals and locations allegedly connected to the case. Officials stated that searches were conducted at a total of nine locations across Jammu & Kashmir. These included six areas in Rajouri district, two locations in Jammu, and one site in the Valley. However, official details regarding what was recovered during the searches or who was questioned have not yet been disclosed; therefore, it would be premature to draw conclusions about the investigation's outcome.

Sarwanand Kaul 'Premi' was not merely a victim of this murder; he was a respected Kashmiri poet, writer, and scholar. He worked towards national unity, communal harmony, and brotherhood among diverse communities. He had also been associated with India's freedom movement. Consequently, the impact of the murder was not limited to the victim's family alone; the case is regarded as one of the most serious incidents linked to the targeted violence and the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandit community from the Valley during that era.

The SIA raids have taken place at a time when investigations into past killings from the terrorism-hit era are being revived. The agency is meticulously examining old documents, potential suspects, and available evidence. Officials have indicated that the searches may be linked to properties and individuals allegedly connected to the conspiracy behind this 1990 incident. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding convictions or new arrests so far.

Prior to this action, the SIA had filed a 737-page charge sheet in June regarding the 1990 murder of Kashmiri Pandit nurse Sarla Bhat. JKLF chief Yasin Malik, currently incarcerated, was named as a prime accused in the alleged conspiracy. Sarla Bhat was abducted at a time when the situation in the Valley was rapidly deteriorating and was subsequently murdered. That case, too, had returned to the ambit of investigation after remaining pending for a long period.

The recent SIA raids concerning the murder of Premi and his son are now being viewed as part of this same process of advancing investigations into old, unresolved cases. In the investigation proceeding under FIR 45/1990, the agency is focusing on the potential conspiracy, the individuals involved, and the available evidence. As of now, there has been no official announcement regarding any major recoveries or arrests following the searches. All eyes will remain on the progress of the investigation and the agency's next course of action. This 1990 case has once again come to the forefront of the investigation after decades.