SRINAGAR: A day after J&K police announced the arrest of two absconding assassins of Moulvi Mohammad Farooq, the family of Sarwanand Koul Premi, a well-known Kashmiri Pandit writer who was killed along with his son allegedly by militants in April 1990 has sought reopening of the case.

Farooq had been killed 33 years back. The family has asked the J&K government to take the case of the father-son duo's killing to a logical conclusion.

“We praise the J&K police for cracking the assassination case of Moulvi Mohammad Farooq after 33 years… We once again urge upon the J&K Lt Governor as well Government of India for not only reopening of this case and taking this case to a logical conclusion, so as to bring the culprits of this whole conspiracy to justice,” Rajinder Premi, son of Sarwanand Koul Premi said.

The family said Sarwanand Premi, 65, and his younger son Verinder Koul, 27, were killed by the militants in April 1990 after they were kidnapped from their home at native village in South Kashmir's Anantnag district. Within a week after the incident, the Premi family left Kashmir.

The family said an FIR was registered in police station Dooru Anantnag, but this case was closed as untraced after a brief period, as no effective and expeditious investigation was done,

The Family said the Police had arrested eight suspects involved, but later the case was closed as untraced.

Rajinder Premi said the family had approached the authorities with the request of handing this case to CBI for an expeditious and effective investigation, but due to unknown reasons was not allowed by the then J&K government.

They said the case of the father-son killing was not reopened despite the recommendations of the state Human Rights Commission (SHRC) in 2012.

Last year, the Jammu and Kashmir government recognised the literary contribution of Sarwanand Premi, who was conferred the lifetime achievement award posthumously on Republic Day. Sarwanand Premi authored more than three dozen books, which include translations of the "Bhagavad Gita" into Urdu and 'Ramayana' into Kashmir. He also translated into Kashmiri Rabindranath Tagore's 'Geetanjali'. (UNI) 

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir reported 122 fresh covid-19 cases while there was no death due to the virus during the last 24 hours, officials said on Wednesday.

They said that 52 cases were reported from Jammu division and 70 from Kashmir Valley, taking the overall tally to 480442. Among the cases, 174405 are from Jammu division and 306037 from Kashmir Valley.

Providing district wise details of the cases, they told GNS, 38  cases were reported Jammu, 18 from Srinagar, 14 from Kulgam, 11 from Baramulla, seven from Bandipora, six from Doda, five from Kishtwar, five each from Budgam, Anantnag and Shopian, three from Kupwara, two each from Udhampur and Pulwama, besides one from Rajouri.

There was no death either from Jammu division or Kashmir valley during the time. So far 4788 people have succumbed to the virus and among them include 2355 from Jammu division and 2433 from the Valley.
Besides, they said, 62 Covid-19 patients recovered during the last 24 hours—12 from Jammu division and 50 from Kashmir Valley. There are now 531 active cases— 240 in Jammu and 291 in Kashmir. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: In an endeavor to reduce the arrears of pending cases, especially those pending for 10 to 20 years, the Chief Justice N. Kotiswar Singh on Friday issued certain directions including constitution of ‘fast track’ bench.

According to directions, all final hearing matters above 10 years shall be listed on Tuesday and Thursday, and these days shall be kept exclusive as “Final Hearing Days” on which days no other non-hearing matter will be taken unless permitted by the Chief Justice.

“Such matters shall be reflected in the cause list as "Target Cases". The cases which are more than 20 years old shall remain on board of the roster bench till final disposal.”

On the final hearing days i.e., Tuesday and Thursday, the urgent matters shall be listed before the benches, subject to mentioning.

“Mention for listing of urgent matters in the two Wings of the High Court shall be made before the Chief Justice or a Senior Judge assigned by the Chief Justice,” reads the direction as per an order, a copy of which lies with GNS.

For the time being, admission and order matters, which are listed on Final Hearing Days because of earlier judicial orders shall be taken up only after the final hearing matters are concluded.

“A fast track Single Bench may be constituted from time to time in both Wings of the High Court to hear the "Target cases" irrespective of roster”.

The Bench Secretaries/Readers of the respective Courts shall ensure that in future, only final hearing matters are fixed on Tuesday and Thursday.  (GNS)