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In April 1990, a young nurse was kidnapped, raped and killed in Srinagar. Her death still haunts Kashmir. Now, the State Investigation Agency is investigating again. Their raids included the home of Javed Nalka, a former JKLF member suspected of the murder plot.

We will discuss the case in this article.

Sarla Bhat was in her twenties, living in a secure medical hostel, and working to build a healthcare career. She was kidnapped from her hostel.

Her safety should have been guaranteed on the hospital premises. Yet, in the lawless and fear-filled environment of that time, even a young nurse in a medical hostel was not beyond the reach of terror.

Her body was discovered in Malabagh a few days later. She had been brutally tortured and raped. Her body showed multiple bullet wounds. Her abduction and murder were part of a broader campaign of targeted killings.

JKLF aimed at sexual violence and mass intimidation to drive the Kashmiri Pandit community from their homeland.

Sarla Bhat’s murder is an enduring wound for Kashmiri Pandits. It is not just a crime from the past. It is a symbol of the systematic violence and injustice they endured during the early 1990s.

Javed Nalka in Spotlight as SIA Reopens Sarla Bhat Case

Thirty-five years later, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) has reopened the case, raiding the homes of former terrorists, including Javed Mir, also known as Javed Nalka, once a senior figure in the banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front. The renewed probe aims to uncover evidence linking these men to one of the most brutal murders of the early 1990s militancy.

These raids have put the spotlight back on Javed Mir, also known as Javed Nalka. His alleged role in the case is once again being examined, bringing old wounds to the surface and raising new questions about justice, accountability, and truth.

Who is Javed Nalka

Before joining the JKLF, Javed Nalka, worked in the waterworks department in the Kashmir Valley. His job there earned him the nickname “Nalka,” which means water tap in Kashmiri. His life changed when he joined the JKLF and became part of the HAJY group, which stands for Hamid Sheikh, Ashfaq Wani, Javed Mir (Nalka), and Yasin Malik.

To know more about Haji Group, explore the article here

Javed Nalka, is believed to be behind violent campaigns targeting Kashmiri Pandits and Indian security forces.

His actions caused widespread fear and the forced exodus of the Pandit community. Javed Nalka has been named in several serious cases, including the killing of four Indian Air Force personnel in 1990 and the kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed in 1989.

When Yasin Malik was imprisoned between 1990 and 1994, Nalka acted as the leader of the group and ran JKLF operations. Known for his connections and operational skills, he played a central role in the group’s terror campaigns.

In the early 2000s, after the JKLF split, he led a rival faction called JKLF(R). While he tried to present himself as a political leader, his name remained tied to some of the most brutal terror crimes of the early 1990s.

Kashmir in 1990: The Year of Terror

The late 1980s in Kashmir saw growing political instability after the 1987 elections, which were widely believed to be rigged. Disillusionment turned to armed insurgency as Pakistan-backed groups began to recruit and arm young men for jihad in the Valley.

By January 1990, the situation had spiralled out of control. Radical Islamist terrorists dominated the streets, openly calling for the expulsion of Kashmiri Pandits. Armed groups like the JKLF issued threats through mosque loudspeakers and wall posters. Pandits were warned to leave the Valley or face death.

In this environment, the HAJY group emerged as one of the most feared terrorist networks in Kashmir. The group’s name came from the initials of its leaders: Hamid Sheikh, Ashfaq Wani, Javed Mir known as Nalka, and Yasin Malik. All four were senior commanders in the JKLF and played a central role in its terrorist operations.

They were responsible for high-profile crimes, including:

• The kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of then Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, in December 1989. She was freed after the government released five jailed terrorists.
• The cold-blooded killing of four unarmed Indian Air Force personnel at Rawalpora in January 1990.
• A campaign of targeted sexual violence against women to humiliate and terrorise communities.

The HAJY group’s actions went beyond political demands. They were part of a jihadist agenda that used fear, brutality, and humiliation as tools to change the demographic and cultural landscape of Kashmir.

It was in this climate that Sarla Bhat was kidnapped.

The Sarla Bhat Murder Case: From Silence to Revival

For more than three decades, the case remained inactive. Political compromises, a lack of political will, and the loss of evidence resulted in no progress. Many of the accused continued their lives freely, while the victim’s family and community waited for justice.

Now, thirty-five years later, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) has reopened the case. In recent weeks, SIA teams carried out raids at the homes of former JKLF terrorists, including Javed Nalka. Investigators are searching for fresh evidence that can link them directly to Sarla’s abduction, torture, and murder.

This case continues to weigh heavily on the collective consciousness of Kashmiri Pandits, symbolizing their struggle for recognition and closure after years of suffering in exile.

Why Sarla Bhat’s Case Still Matters to Kashmiri Pandits

For the Pandit community, the Sarla Bhat case is not just about one person. It represents every kidnapping, rape, and murder that was carried out in those years and went unpunished.

“This is about truth and accountability,” says Anil Kaul, a Kashmiri Pandit activist. “Terrorists like Javed Nalka must face justice for what they did. It is not about revenge. It is about making sure history is recorded truthfully and justice is not denied forever.”

Sarla Bhat Case :Justice After 35 Years

The long gap poses serious challenges. Physical evidence may have been lost, witnesses may be too afraid to speak, and political pressure can still influence the outcome.

Even so, reopening the case sends a clear message that crimes of terror have no expiry date.

Remembering Sarla Bhat

Sarla was more than just a victim. She was a young nurse with a bright future, dedicated to healing others. Her life was destroyed by those who thrived on fear, cruelty, and violence.

The question now is whether justice will finally be delivered, not only for Sarla Bhat but for all the victims of that dark period in Kashmir’s history.