SIA raids nine places in J&K in connection with murder of Kashmiri Pandit poet Sarvanand Kaul Premi, his son in 1990

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, AUGUST 12 (STC): The State Investigation Agency (SIA) conducted searches at nine locations in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir in connection with the investigation into the murder of renowned Kashmiri Pandit poet, writer and translator Sarvanand Kaul Premi and his minor son Virendra Kaul in 1990, said reports quoting officials.
The operation was carried out in connection with FIR No. 45/1990, which was registered at Police Station Duroo in Anantnag district of south Kashmir. Later, the investigation into the case was taken over by the State Investigation Agency.
Officials said that the searches conducted on Wednesday were aimed at collecting possible evidence and other important materials related to the case. Sarwanand Kaul Premmi, who was about 65 years old at the time, and his 27-year-old son Virendra Kaul were killed by militants in their native village in Anantnag district in May 1990. The Kaul family left Kashmir about a week after the tragic incident. Premmi was one of the leading Kashmiri Pandit poets, writers, translators and intellectuals of his time and his literary contributions have earned him a prominent place in Kashmiri and Urdu literature.
According to authorities, three accused named in the case have since died, while Khurshid Ahmed Chalko is absconding and is believed to have fled to Pakistan.
Notably, the SIA had also reopened the Sarla Bhatt case as part of the reinvestigation of long-pending cases related to the early days of militancy in the Kashmir Valley.
(Straight Talk Communications I Inputs from NNB)