Official sources have indicated that the Jammu and Kashmir Police are preparing to reopen a series of murder cases involving notable Kashmiri Pandits, among them the assassination of retired judge Neelkanth Ganjoo, which occurred over thirty years ago.
The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of the J&K Police issued an appeal to the general public, seeking their cooperation in unveiling the intricacies of the conspiracy surrounding Ganjoo’s killing.
In their plea, the SIA encouraged individuals possessing either direct or indirect knowledge of the events or circumstances related to the murder to step forward and contribute to the ongoing police investigation.
The assassination of Ganjoo in 1989 marked one instance within a sequence of deliberate killings orchestrated by Pakistan-backed Islamic militants, compelling Kashmiri Pandits to evacuate their homes to escape the peril, resulting in the most extensive displacement in the history of independent India.
Individuals possessing pertinent information can reach out to the authorities through phone at 8899004976 or by emailing [email protected].
The SIA’s endeavor seeks to uncover the fundamental aspects of the larger criminal scheme that led to Ganjoo’s murder. As a former sessions and district court judge, he was singled out by terrorists due to his involvement in presiding over the trial of separatist Maqbool Bhat, who was the initiator of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).
In 1968, Ganjoo pronounced a death sentence for Bhat, convicting him for his role in the 1966 murder of police inspector Amar Chand. This verdict was eventually confirmed by the Supreme Court in 1982, leading to Bhat’s execution in 1984.
As the wave of Islamic terrorism swept across the Kashmir Valley, numerous notable Kashmiri Pandits fell victim to violence, with the aim of instilling fear within the community. Mosque loudspeakers called upon them to depart from the Valley. On November 4, 1989, Ganjoo was assassinated by terrorists in broad daylight near the High Court in Srinagar.
Following subsequent incidents of violence against other Kashmiri Pandits, a large-scale exodus of the community occurred. They resided in refugee camps in Jammu for extended periods before eventually finding settlements that provided them with livelihoods and a degree of comfort. Despite many still owning property and land in Kashmir, the looming threat of terrorism has deterred their return to their native land.
Each effort to reintegrate into the Valley has been met with renewed instances of targeted killings. Presently, only a limited number of Kashmiri Pandits remain in the Valley, residing in designated enclaves. In the years 2022 and 2023, at least four Kashmiri Pandits fell victim to violence.
In the previous year, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition requesting an investigation into the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits that took place during the period of 1989-90.
