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17 years on, Chattisingpora massacre victims await closure

APSCC demands fresh probe under Pandan Commission

Govt blamed militants, yet to back claim with evidence: Raina   

 

Srinagar: 17 years on, the real culprits of the Chattisinghpora Massacare are yet to be identified. The people of the state, especially the members of the Sikh community are still waiting for the closure of the brutal case in which more than 50 people, including 35 Sikhs were killed on March 20th, 2000.

The All Party Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) on Monday said that the government blamed militants for the massacre and even killed five people claiming that they carried out the killings. However, claim of the police was proven wrong after a judicial inquiry under Justice Pandan proved that the men killed were innocent residents of Brackpora.

Jagmohan Singh Raina, Chairman of the APSCC said in a statement said, “We shall not rest till the real culprits of this massacre are brought to justice.

 

“The killed persons which police claimed to be ‘militants’ were actually innocent residents of Brackpura, proved by judicial enquiry of Justice Pandan Commission,”

 

He added, “The Government of India (GoI) had blamed these murders on separatist militants and also claimed to kill five involved in the massacre. But so far, GoI has is yet to present any hard evidence to back their claims.”

Raina also mentioned that police had claimed that around 20 unidentified gunmen carried out the attack and later killed five of them. However, all claims were refuted by the Pandan Commission.

“According to the police, nearly 20 unidentified gunmen carried out the massacre at Chattisinghpora and five were killed which was later on proven wrong. The killed persons which police claimed to be ‘militants’ were actually innocent residents of Brackpura proved by judicial enquiry of Justice Pandan Commission,” said Raina.

While terming the killings as fake, Raina said that bodies of the ‘militants’ were buried hastily and were burnt beyond recognition.

“The drama created by the officials was a fake and so melodramatic that on their behalf they said that the militants were caught in a burning house during a gun battle and their bodies were charred beyond recognition,” Raina said.

He added, “We in Kashmir are questioning whether the men killed on that day were actually involved in the Chattisinghpora killings or not. So far the police have failed to produce any hard evidence that they were involved — leaving many in Kashmir to question that whether the security officials in the troubled region really knew who killed the men of Chattisinghpora.”

The APSCC had demanded a fresh probe into the killings as the government has failed to nab the culprits.
“Now, we urge the State and the GoI to go for fresh probe in the killings of Sikhs. If they failed to do so then, we will consider it as a huge injustice with the Sikhs of Kashmir,” Raina maintained.

He further added that the Justice Pandan Commission should be allowed to investigate more as both Brackpora and Chittisinghpora incidents are related.

Raina also informed that the then Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has assured the community that the perpetuators will be brought to justice however, his assurances proved a hoax.
(With inputs from KNS)

 

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