J&K Reopens Wandhama Massacre Probe as Jalgaon Police Crack Down on Illegal Silencers

The Jammu and Kashmir State Investigation Agency has reopened the probe into the 1998 Wandhama massacre, in which militants killed 23 Kashmiri Pandits from four families in Ganderbal district. The move follows a 737-page chargesheet in the 1990 murder of nurse Sarla Bhatt, which names jailed JKLF chief Yasin Malik. Investigators are reviewing evidence, identifying terrorists and examining the role of alleged local accomplices. Authorities are also pursuing similar cases, including the killings of BJP leader Tika Lal Taploo and poet Sarwanand Koul Premi. The renewed investigations seek accountability for victims of the 1990s militancy and the community’s subsequent exodus.

The Jammu and Kashmir State Investigation Agency has reopened the probe into the 1998 Wandhama massacre, in which militants killed 23 Kashmiri Pandits from four families in Ganderbal district. The move follows a 737-page chargesheet in the 1990 murder of nurse Sarla Bhatt, which names jailed JKLF chief Yasin Malik. Investigators are reviewing evidence, identifying terrorists and examining the role of alleged local accomplices. Authorities are also pursuing similar cases, including the killings of BJP leader Tika Lal Taploo and poet Sarwanand Koul Premi. The renewed investigations seek accountability for victims of the 1990s militancy and the community’s subsequent exodus.

Jalgaon police in Maharashtra have launched a crackdown on vehicles fitted with illegal loud silencers. Officers seized more than 100 silencers and fancy number plates before destroying them on the spot with a road roller. Superintendent Shrikant Dhivare led the operation, which aims to address public complaints about excessive noise and enforce vehicle pollution standards. Residents largely welcomed the action, saying it could improve road discipline and safety. However, some people urged police to impound the motorcycles involved as well. Similar drives against modified silencers have also taken place in Mysuru and Malerkotla, reflecting growing efforts to control traffic noise.