Sh. Lassa Kaul

Remembrance & Record

Life Summary: Mr. Lassa Kaul was a respected media professional and served as Director of Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar. A member of the Kashmiri Pandit community, he spent much of his career in public broadcasting and was associated with the growth of television services in Jammu & Kashmir. During a period marked by rising militancy and political turmoil, he remained committed to his professional responsibilities despite receiving threats because of his position and his association with a government institution.

As Director of the Valley’s state-run television station, he occupied a highly visible public role. At a time when militant organizations sought to intimidate government officials, journalists, and public servants, Mr. Kaul became one of the most prominent civilian targets in Kashmir.

Circumstances of Death: On the evening of 13 February 1990, at approximately 7:15 p.m., Mr. Lassa Kaul arrived at his residence in the Bemina area of Srinagar. As he stepped out of his official vehicle, armed militants opened fire on him at close range. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was declared dead shortly thereafter.

Contemporary reports indicate that the attackers had been waiting for his arrival and carried out the attack as a planned assassination rather than a spontaneous act of violence. His killing occurred during the early months of the militancy that engulfed the Kashmir Valley and contributed to a climate of fear among Kashmiri Pandits and other civilians.

Known Perpetrators: Contemporary reporting and historical accounts attribute the assassination of Mr. Lassa Kaul to militants associated with the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). Public reports from the period indicate that he had received repeated threats before his murder because of his role as Director of Doordarshan Srinagar.

Family Details: Publicly available sources confirm that Mr. Kaul was survived by his family, who were forced to endure the loss of a husband and father during one of the most turbulent periods in Kashmir’s modern history. Detailed information regarding surviving family members is limited in public records.

Tribute / Notes: Mr. Lassa Kaul’s assassination was not merely the killing of an individual; it was an attack on the freedom of expression, public institutions, and the rule of law. His murder sent shockwaves across the Valley and became one of the defining incidents of the early militancy period.

Remembered as a dedicated broadcasting professional and public servant, Mr. Kaul chose to continue performing his duties despite threats to his life. His death remains a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those who stood by their professional responsibilities in the face of intimidation and violence.

More than three decades later, his name continues to be remembered among the many victims of militancy whose stories form an essential part of the historical record of Kashmir.