Archive · 12 Aug 2026
SIA raids nine locations in 1990 double murder case
Police officers from Jammu and Kashmir, called the State Investigation Agency, did surprise searches at nine places on Wednesday.
They are trying to solve a very old crime from 1990.
Back then, a famous writer and poet named Sarwanand Koul Premi and his grown-up son Virender were taken from their home by bad people.
Their bodies were found two days later, hanging from a tree far away from their house.
Now, many years later, the police are looking for new clues.
They searched homes and properties in different parts of the region.
The police hope to find out exactly what happened, who did it, and who helped them.
This is one of many old cases from 1990 that are being looked at again.
The police want to finish the investigation and give a clear answer.
The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted searches at nine locations across the Union Territory on Wednesday, August 12.
The searches relate to the 1990 abduction and murder of Kashmiri Pandit writer, poet and social worker Sarwanand Koul Premi and his 27-year-old son Virender Koul of Soaf Shali, Kokernag, Anantnag.
The two were abducted on the night of April 29-30, 1990, and their bodies were recovered on May 1, 1990, hanging from a tree nearly 20 kilometres from their residence (per one report).
An FIR (No. 45/1990) was registered at Dooru Police Station, Anantnag, and the case is now being investigated by the SIA.
Reports differ on the locations: one mentions Anantnag district and the Bagh-e-Bahu area of Jammu, while another says six sites in Rajouri, two in Jammu and one in Kashmir Valley.
- Who
- The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted the searches; the case involves victims Sarwanand Koul Premi, a Kashmiri Pandit writer and social worker, and his 27-year-old son Virender Koul.
- What
- Simultaneous searches at nine locations as part of a renewed investigation into the 1990 abduction and murder of the Kashmiri Pandit writer and his son.
- When
- The searches took place on Wednesday, August 12; the original crime occurred in 1990, with the abduction on the night of April 29-30 and bodies recovered on May 1.
- Where
- Nine locations across the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory; reports differ, citing Anantnag district and Bagh-e-Bahu, Jammu, while another says six in Rajouri, two in Jammu and one in the Kashmir Valley.
- Why
- To uncover the circumstances of the killings, identify those involved, trace accomplices and bring the long-running probe to a decisive end; the case is among reopened investigations into killings of minority community members.
- Investigating Agency
- State Investigation Agency (SIA), Jammu and Kashmir Police
- Victims
- Sarwanand Koul Premi and his 27-year-old son Virender Koul
- Residence
- Soaf Shali (Sof-Shali) village, Kokernag, Anantnag district
- Date of Abduction
- Night of April 29-30, 1990
- Bodies Recovered
- May 1, 1990, found hanging from a tree nearly 20 km from residence
- FIR
- No. 45/1990 at Dooru (Duru) Police Station, Anantnag
- Locations Searched
- Nine across J&K; reporting varies (Anantnag and Bagh-e-Bahu, Jammu per one; Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir Valley per another)
- Background
- One of many cases of killings of minority community members reopened for fresh investigation and handed to the SIA
