Kashmir investigation agency reopens cold case of 1990 abduction and killing of Pandit family

The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of Jammu and Kashmir has revived a 34‑year‑old cold case involving the 1990 kidnapping and murder of Pandit scholar Sarvandev Kaul and his son. On Wednesday, SIA teams conducted simultaneous raids at nine locations throughout the region.

The action follows an FIR lodged at the Durur police station in Anantnag, which the SIA has now taken over. The agency’s search aimed at uncovering evidence and locating individuals believed to have participated in the 1990 crime.

Sarvandev Kaul, a celebrated poet and academic, spent his life promoting unity among Kashmir’s diverse communities. His murder, along with that of his son, became a symbol of the terror that forced many Kashmiri Hindus to flee their homes.

Earlier this year, the SIA filed a 737‑page charge sheet naming JKL‑F leader Yasin Malik as the mastermind behind the 1990 abduction and killing of nurse Sarla Bhat, another high‑profile case from the same period. The renewed investigation reflects a broader effort to address unresolved atrocities from the insurgency era.

The raids were carried out in six spots in Rajouri district, two in Jammu, and one within the valley. Officials have not yet disclosed what, if any, material was recovered during the operations.