SC rejects plea seeking probe in exodus of KPs

NEW DELHI: Citing the difficulties in gathering evidences after 27 years of their exodus from the valley, the Supreme Court has today refused to entertain a plea of Kashmiri Pandits seeking probe and prosecution of various persons, including separatist leader Yasin Malik, for offences including murder of over 700 Pandits during the height of militancy in the Valley in 1989-90.
The bench of Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud, while refusing to accept the plea filed by an organisation 'Roots of Kashmir' citing the long period of time that has passed since the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley, said, "You (petitioner) sat over it for last 27 years. Now tell us from where the evidence will come."
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, seeking a fresh probe and prosecution in these cases.
The court didn't accept the argument of Advocate Vikas Padora, appearing for the organization, who contended that Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave their abodes in the Valley and could not join the investigation.
Padora's further submission that the delay was there but neither the Centre nor the state government nor the judiciary took adequate note of it to do the needful didn't help the cause either.
It can be recalled here that Kashmiri Pandits were forced to flee the Valley in the early 1990s amid rising threats and attacks during the peak of militancy.