25 Years On: Sikh Body Demands Justice for Chattisinghpora Massacre Victims

The All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) has voiced strong disappointment over the lack of justice for the families of 35 Sikhs brutally massacred in Chattisinghpora, Islamabad district of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on March 20, 2000.

Marking the 25th anniversary of the heinous Chattisinghpora massacre, APSCC Chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina addressed a press conference, lamenting the prolonged delay in delivering justice to the victims’ families. He expressed grave concern over the absence of meaningful progress in identifying and punishing the perpetrators, emphasizing that this continued neglect has deepened disillusionment and anger within the Sikh community in the occupied region.

The massacre, which saw 35 innocent Sikh men butchered by troops disguised as militants on the eve of then US President Bill Clinton’s visit to India, remains one of the darkest chapters in Kashmir’s recent history. What makes the tragedy even more agonizing, Raina noted, is the systematic failure to hold the perpetrators accountable over the past two and a half decades.

Raina highlighted the pressing need for a transparent and professional investigation into the incident. He stressed that the massacre was not an isolated event but was followed by additional bloodshed, including the killing of 15 people from the majority Muslim community. This sequence of violence, he argued, underscores the importance of an impartial probe that addresses all affected families’ demands for justice.

He further criticized the government’s claim of having killed five militants allegedly responsible for the Sikh massacre, a narrative strongly contested by the local population. He pointed out that the subsequent encounter, widely seen as staged, lacked any credible evidence linking those killed to the massacre.

Raina also extended his sympathy to the families of victims in Brakpora, where security forces opened fire on protestors demanding justice, resulting in further loss of life. He called upon authorities to expedite investigations into the fake encounter and revisit findings of the Pandian Commission, arguing that both the Chattisinghpora and Brakpora incidents are intrinsically connected.

Recalling international reactions, Raina mentioned that the massacre had drawn condemnation worldwide, including a strong denouncement by then US President Bill Clinton, who later described it as one of the most unfortunate incidents during his presidency.

Concluding his address, Raina urged the Indian government to take concrete steps toward identifying and punishing the real culprits, stressing that justice delayed is justice denied.