The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for stringent punishment for all individuals accused in the kidnapping and killing of Sarla Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit nurse, in April 1990. The party emphasized that justice for Bhat, who they described as “Kashmir’s daughter” representing the region’s composite culture, remains incomplete until the main perpetrator, reportedly in Pakistan, is brought to trial.
Speaking at a press conference, J&K BJP’s chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi stated that Bhat, her family, and the entire Kashmiri community have endured a 36-year wait for justice. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that the State Investigation Agency (SIA) recently filed a comprehensive chargesheet, spanning over 700 pages, naming banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik as the primary accused in the brutal killing. The SIA has characterized this development as a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for victims of terrorism.
The SIA reopened the case in 2024, which had been handed over to them, and submitted the chargesheet to the designated NIA court. This action comes 36 years after Bhat, a nurse at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura, went missing and was subsequently found dead in downtown Srinagar. Sethi urged the broader Kashmiri society to support the prosecution’s efforts in the case. He appealed to the government and prosecuting agencies to vigorously pursue the case to ensure that the perpetrators receive the harshest possible punishment. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of apprehending and prosecuting those who have evaded the reach of the law.
The BJP spokesperson articulated that achieving justice in this case would pave the way for the re-establishment of a harmonious society in Kashmir, where individuals of all religious backgrounds can coexist. He expressed concern that if the Kashmiri society does not recognize Bhat as its own daughter, it would signify a profound failure for the region. Sethi highlighted that the nation and the world are observing Kashmir’s response, and he called for an open and supportive stance from the society.
Sethi extended his gratitude to the investigating agencies for their success in cracking the case, attributing this achievement to the strong governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He drew attention to Yasin Malik’s past interactions with prime ministers, contrasting it with his alleged role in Bhat’s killing. The BJP leader also voiced his dismay over social media attempts to justify or support the accused. He particularly addressed the notion that reopening such cases could impede the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley, asserting that any return must be founded on justice, not on the forgetting of heinous crimes like rape and murder.
The chargesheet names Yasin Malik, who was reportedly the self-styled commander-in-chief of the JKLF terrorist outfit at the time, along with four accomplices: Khursheed Ahmad Chalkoo, Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Ghulam Mohammad Taploo, and Mohammad Yousuf Sofi. Chalkoo is believed to have exfiltrated from Kashmir and is currently residing in Pakistan. The accused face charges under various provisions of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), 1987, and the Indian Arms Act, 1959. The reopening of this case by the SIA, which took over the investigation following a handover in 2024, marks a significant step in addressing long-standing grievances related to terrorism in the region. The agency’s meticulous work in compiling the extensive chargesheet underscores the commitment to bringing perpetrators of past atrocities to justice. The BJP’s stance reflects a broader demand for accountability and closure for victims and their families, emphasizing that reconciliation and return processes must be built on a foundation of justice and acknowledgement of past wrongs. The party’s leadership has consistently advocated for a robust approach to counter-terrorism and ensuring that those responsible for violence are held accountable, regardless of their past political connections or current whereabouts. The focus on Sarla Bhat’s case is seen by the party as a crucial step in healing the wounds of the past and fostering a secure environment for all communities in Jammu and Kashmir. The legal proceedings are expected to be closely watched, both within the region and nationally, as they unfold, potentially setting precedents for other unresolved cases from the period of militancy.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
Leave a Reply