The All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) has expressed disappointment over the prolonged delay in justice for the families of 35 Sikhs who were massacred in Chattisinghpora, Islamabad district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir on March 20, 2000. According to Kashmir Media Service, 35 members of Sikh community were butchered by the troops in disguise in Chattisinghpora area  of Islamabad district on March 20, 2000 on the eve of the then US President, Bill Clinton’s visit to India. 

What is more agonizing part of the massacre is that the perpetrators have not been accorded punishment and delay in justice has led to growing resentment among the Sikh community. The APSCC Chairman, Jagmohan Singh Raina, addressing a news conference lamented that despite the passage of 25 years, no significant progress has been made in identifying and punishing those responsible for the killings. He warned that the continued delay has deepened the sense of disillusionment among the Sikh community in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. 

Highlighting the need for a thorough investigation, Raina emphasized that the Chattisinghpora massacre was followed by further bloodshed, including the killing of 15 people from the majority community. He called for an impartial probe into the sequence of events to ensure justice for all affected families. Raina pointed out that locals had contested the government’s claim of having killed five militants allegedly involved in the Sikh massacre.

He stressed that a professional and transparent investigation was essential to bring the real perpetrators to justice. Expressing sympathy with the families of those killed in Brakpora, where protestors were fired upon while demanding justice for a fake encounter, the APSCC Chairman urged the authorities to expedite the probe to uncover the truth. He noted that the police had failed to provide conclusive evidence linking those killed in the fake encounter to the Chattisinghpora massacre.

He demanded a new probe into the incident, allowing the Pandian Commission to further investigate, as both cases are interlinked.  Recalling international condemnation, Raina mentioned that the massacre was denounced by then US President Bill Clinton, who later termed it one of the most unfortunate incidents of his presidency. He urged the government of India to take concrete steps to identify and punish the culprits behind the massacre.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)