Chattisinghpora massacre: Delay in justice leads to disillusionment among Sikhs, says APSCC
Srinagar: On the anniversary of Chattisinghpora massacre, the Sikh body on Tuesday expressed dismay over the delay in justice to the families of 35 Sikh families who were killed at Chattisinghpora in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on March 20, 2000.
All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) Chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina in a statement issued here that although 19 years have passed no headway whatsoever has been made in the case. He said the delay in justice has led to disillusionment among the members of Sikh community.
“Total 50 people were killed in Chattisinghpora episode. It is important that justice is delivered to the victim families. At the same time investigations need to be carried out in the sequence of events that unfolded later on as 15 more persons belonging to majority community were also killed in the aftermath of the Chattisinghpora massacre,” Raina said.
Raina said that since the locals countered the claims of government that it has killed five militants involved in the killing of 35 Sikhs it is imperative that the whole incident is probed in a professional manner so that culprits are brought to book and justice is delivered to the affected families.
He said security agencies investigating are always dubious this is known to every common Indian, that they work under influence. “If Government of India seems interested in solving the Chittinsinghpora they should conduct inquiry which is impartial and lead by some independent body so that truth is in front of everyone and especially Sikhs living in the valley,” he added.
He also expressed his sympathies to the families of persons who were killed in firing of security forces at Brakpora who were protesting against the fake encounter. He said that government should take up the probe in a forceful manner so that the real picture comes to the fore and people heave a sigh of relief.
“Justice Pandian who was asked to probe the incident in his report said that the five persons claimed to be militants by the security agencies were actually innocent residents of Brakpora. Their bodies were burnt and hastily buried in a nearby village. Since the whole episode has come under a cloud it is important to hold the probe in a transparent manner without any prejudice or bias,” Raina said.
Notably, in 2000, unidentified gunmen entered Chattisinghpora village and massacred 35 men belonging to the minority Sikh community. The murder of Sikhs shocked the entire Kashmir region.
“The police have so far failed to produce any hard evidence that the persons killed in the fake encounter were involved in the killing of Sikhs at Chattisinghpora. The committee formed by the government to find out the culprits, has failed to solve the mystery. We urge both the state and central government to go for fresh probe in the killings of Sikhs and make the things clear. Pandian Commission should be allowed to further investigate the incident as Brakpora and Chattisinghpora cases are interlinked,” said Raina.
Raina said the massacre was condemned by then President of USA, Bill Clinton. He urged the Government of India to nab the culprits, which he later on also mentioned in his book and termed the incident as most unfortunate incident of his life.
The then chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir Dr. Farooq Abdullah had publicly assured that the culprits will be soon arrested. Till date the promises made by the former CM and the present dispensation have proven to be hoax, the statement added.
KV News
