The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police has decided to reopen the investigation into the infamous 1998 Wandhama massacre. 23 Kashmiri Pandits lost their lives in this brutal attack in Wandhama village of Ganderbal district. The agency took the decision after conducting search operations at several locations linked to the killings over the past few days.
On the eve of Republic Day in 1998, militants from Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, dressed in Indian Army uniforms, opened indiscriminate fire in Wandhama village in the Valley. 23 people, including 9 women and four children, were killed in the attack targeting Kashmiri Pandits. An investigation was launched at that time, but now the agency will start afresh the process of identifying those behind the entire incident and taking legal action.
According to sources in the State Investigation Agency of Jammu and Kashmir, the role of not only the militants involved in the massacre but also the planners of the violent incident will be ascertained. The administration has taken this step with the aim of judicial closure of all old cases of atrocities and killings of Kashmiri Pandits in the 80s and 90s.
It is to be noted that while efforts to resettle Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley continue, the Jammu and Kashmir government has expedited the investigation of old crimes. Earlier, the agency had also reopened investigations into the murder and rape of nurse Sarla Bhat, the killings of BJP leader Tika Lal Taploo, prominent writer Sarvanand Kaul Premi and his son, as well as the murder of Justice Neelkanth Ganjoo. As part of this investigation, searches were also conducted at the residence of former JKLF chief and separatist leader Yasin Malik, who has been declared banned.
