Kashmiri Pandits’ killings: Supreme Court refuses to reopen 215 cases

Source – indianexpress.com

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to reopen 215 cases in which 700 Kashmiri Pandits were killed during the 1989-90 unrest in the Valley. Refusing to entertain a plea seeking reprobe and the trial of several persons, including separatist leader Yasin Malik, for alleged offences against the Kashmiri Pandits during that period, an apex court bench observed that it will be difficult to obtain evidence after 27 years.

A bench of Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud said: “You (petitioner) sat over it for last 27 years. Now tell us from where the evidence will come.”

Appearing for the organisation ‘Roots of Kashmir’, Advocate Vikas Padora told the court that Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave their homes in the Valley and could not join the subsequent investigations. He also accused the Centre and J&K government of not taking note of it and doing the needful.

The organisation has alleged that 215 FIRs had been lodged relating to the murder of over 700 Kashmiri Pandits and none of the cases have reached a logical conclusion.

Kashmiri Pandits were forced to flee the Valley in the early 1990s amid rising threats and attacks during the peak of militancy.