Pulwama Attack: SC Dismisses PIL Seeking Probe into Alleged Ploy

The PIL said nearly 370 kgs of RDX was used in the terror attack and it required a through probe.

The Supreme Court on Monday, 25 February, dismissed a plea seeking probe into alleged larger conspiracy behind the 14 February Pulwama terror attack.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna was hearing a PIL filed by lawyer Vineet Dhanda, seeking probe into alleged larger conspiracy in the attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed

The PIL submitted that nearly 370 kgs of RDX was used in the terror attack and it required a through probe.

On Friday, 22 February, the Supreme Court directed chief secretaries and DGPs of states and UTs to take "prompt" and "necessary" action to prevent incidents of threat, social boycott and violence against Kashmiris following the Pulwama terror attack.

It also sought responses from the Centre and 11 states where incidents of threat and violence against Kashmiris have taken place after the 14 February terror attack.

"The Chief Secretaries, the DGPs of all states and Union Territories (UTs) including the Commissioner of Police, Delhi are directed to take prompt and necessary action to prevent incidents of assault, threat, social boycott and such other egregious acts against Kashmiris including students enrolled with the institutions in the respondent states and the UTs and other minorities in the wake of the terrorist attack of February 14," said a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

The bench perused the list of top police officers, who have been appointed as nodal officers in state and UTs and said their details be given wide publicity by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) so that Kashmiris can approach them in case of "assault, intimidation and threat".

It said the Nodal Officers, in addition those who may have already been appointed by Jammu and Kashmir, as per the list placed by the AG before this court.

The PIL has sought a direction to the Centre and other authorities for prosecuting people engaging in hate speech, and to appoint a nodal officer in every state and Union Territory, including politically-sensitive districts, to prevent acts of violence, discrimination and vigilantism.

It had also sought immediate setting up of a nationwide helpline number and a web-site containing contact details of the nodal officers appointed in politically-sensitive districts.

"There is a sudden rise in the incidents of crimes against Muslims and Kashmiris after the Pulwama attack in which over 40 soldiers were killed... Immediately after the attack, mobs and vigilante groups engaged in vitriolic hate speech and began attacking, and threatening Muslims and Kashmiris throughout the country, the petition said.