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Visit To Chithi Singhpora - Fact Collection
2.1 Visitors To The Village When President Clinton's visit was finalized, approximately one and a half months before he actually visited India, the following events took place:
Relations with local Muslims were very cordial and friendly for the past
eleven years.
Every one moved about freely including women and children. Sikh women
and children were not singled out for harassment just because they were
Sikhs.
According to Gyani Rajendar Singh, the Granthi, and others present about
five hundred families of Sikhs and about thirty families of Muslims
reside in Chithi Singhpora.
Complaint against State Government was that their educated youth are
unemployed and denied government jobs. Area is also neglected and denied
development aid, roads etc, are in a state of neglect.
Villagers confirmed that Militants used to pass through their village
occasionally but never did any harm. Sometimes they stopped and odd
vehicle to take a lift.
Villagers just did not believe that Militants had any hand in this
incident. When asked who they suspected, they were guarded.
2.3 Information On Carnage (7:30 p.m. March 20, 2000)
The killers were clad in uniforms worn by our armed forces.
Uniforms were smeared with Holi (an Indian festival) colours.
Half a bottle of liquor was found at site which villagers felt indicated
killers had consumed drinks prior to crime. In fact some had seen the CO
(Commanding Officer) taking a swig from a liquor bottle.
After the killings, the slogan "Jai Mata Di "Jai Hind" was shouted by
the killers before they left.
Villagers confirmed that Muslims families were most concerned and have
consoled the death of the Sikh family members.
Villagers are still undecided about their future course of action but
they have not yet decided to leave their village and go elsewhere. They
however, fear that there may be more attacks and have asked government
for security measures. ACRPF post has been set up consisting of about
forty men inside the village and located in the two Gurdwaras. The team
could not see any defence posts tactically located around the village.
CRPF men were residing in the embro of the village.
Villagers were very grateful that Sikhs from Punjab and all over India
have visited them and promised all help. Support of foreign Sikh too was
highly appreciated. They felt proud to be Sikhs.
The villagers described the crime in detail. The killers were led by a
tall man who the others addressed as "CO"; The killers were in two
groups and rounded up male members present and living around the two
Gurdwaras of the village. The Nambardar (Headman) and Havaldar
(ex-servicemen) Jagir Singh were specially called out of their residence
and informed that a crack down was to take place. All were required to
come to the Gurdwara. As the men came out of their homes they were made
to sit on the ground next to the wall of the first Gurdwara and the
opposite wall of the smaller Gurdwara. Thus seventeen and eighteen men
respectively were lined up and killed by point blank firing. The bullet
marks were clearly visible on both walls.
The incidence of Karamjit Singh (alias Kuku) was narrated. He had
collected milk from the Muslim sector and on return was stopped by the
CO and made to sit down. He got restless and told the CO that he must
deliver the milk for his sick son immediately and promised to return. CO
said, "Aap Baitho Thora Deri. Ham Ko Khali Khana Puri Karni Hai" ("You
sit for a while. We are only completing a formality".) Suspecting foul
play, which he voiced to his neighbour Nanak Singh, he slipped away and
reached home. He told his family to lock all doors as a calamity was
about to take place. Thus he escaped.
Nanak Singh stayed on and was wounded. He feigned death and thus
escaped. He was removed to a Civil hospital in Srinagar, then to a
Military hospital. Later he was evacuated to Jammu and it is learnt that
he and his family have migrated. He is under treatment in a hospital in
Amritsar.
Karamjit Singh (Teacher) with his family has migrated to Jammu. On our
second visit to the village they told us that a letter was found in the
shoe of one revenue clerk of the village asking him to leave immediately
as another similar incident was likely to take place soon. This had
caused great anxiety among the villagers. Children were not going to
school nor were adults going out of the village for work.
2.4 Visit To Matan Gurdwara (April 13, 2000 - 6 km
From Chithi Singhpora)
About twenty two Sikhs were contacted and it included a cross-section of
society. They corroborated the version given by the villagers. Included
Sardar Diwan Singh (65 years) a venerable Sikh who had lost his son in
law Sukha Singh in the massacre. Bank Manager, Punjab National Bank
Matan and a teacher Inderjit Singh. Additional information provided was
as follows:
Matan Sikhs also talked of a Muslim local of Chithi Singhpora who was
said to have known the militants visiting the village occasionally.
Rumour is that killers were seen talking to him on that day. The boy is
now in custody of the security forces. Villagers contacted at the
village totally deny any knowledge of this.
Matan Sikhs confirmed that area was searched repeatedly by security
forces and after a few days they heard that Pakistan currency in the
form of coins had later been found in the area. This was again denied by
the villagers.
They also confirmed the version of the villagers with regard to
unemployment of Sikh youth.
2.5 Prof (Retd) Prem Singh, Srinagar (April 14, 2000)
A respectable senior citizen of Srinagar. His family has been residing
in Srinagar from many generations.. One son is a Doctor in a government
hospital and the other is also in government service. When asked to
comment on the Chithi Singhpora carnage his views were:
He felts it was difficult to pinpoint the culprits at present but they
do not appear to be militants.
Sikhs have very good relations with the local Muslim population. In fact
we are as good Kashmiris as them. For ten years no incident, especially
targeting the Sikhs, has taken place in the whole of J & K.
Prominent Muslim leadership and the general public has repeatedly
assured us of their backing and that they would not allow the Sikhs to
leave.
There have been Hartals allover the state expressing sympathy with the
Sikhs.
Important Members of the Joint Action Committee of the Sikhs in Srinagar
are, Sardar Charn Singh Bali President, Prof. Prem Singh and Sardar Lava
Singh.
The Sikhs of J & K are a well settled community with land holdings and
other business interests.
Reaction from the Muslim community has been very re-assuring.
2.6 Press Correspondents, Indian Express, Srinagar (April 14,2000)
We visited Muzamil Jaleel and Nazir Masoodi, press correspondents,
Indian Express on April 14, 2000 and they said that:
The reaction of the Muslim community has been very re-assuring.
Large number of Sikhs serve in the Army and many Sikhs have been
inducted into RR Units deployed in J & K. the state police is also
manned at the top by the Sikhs. This has not prejudiced the Muslims
against the local Sikh population.
The Sikhs of J & K have landed property and other business assets. 'The
love for land is strong in them.
We feel that it will require many more than one such incident for the
Sikhs to leave the valley.
2.7 Syed Ali Shah Geelani President Huriat Conference (April 14, 2000)
He was under house arrest when we met him on April 14, 2000. His views
on the carnage were that:
This was the work of the Indian security forces and was aimed to
coincide with the Clinton visit.
The Muslims allover J&K had gone on sympathy Hartals. They have asked
for a impartial inquiry into this incident by UN Human Rights
Organization.
They said that Chithi Singhpora massacre was planned as both Union Home
Minister, Advani and State Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah had warned
publicly the Sikhs against supporting the militants.
Things became very clear after the killings in the fake encounter of
five so-called foreign mercenaries responsible for Singhpora carnage
whose exhumed dead bodies have been clearly recognized by their
relatives to be innocent local Muslims.
They also pointed out that the statement that day published in Newspaper
by Union Minister, Pramod Mahajan was a very derogatory one. Mahajan had
more or less accepted the killings of five innocent Kashmiris and had
exonerated the security forces by saying that every unintentional
mistake made by the security forces during the performance of their duty
in J & K must not be investigated. An apology from the security forces
would be considered as the end of the matter. This was a very serious
blunder. Mahajan's statement avers that due to their natural role and
duties, Security forces are likely to commit errors unintentionally and
the government will accept their apology and not proceed further. This
kind of a statement will encourage genocide in Kashmir as is happening
now.
2.8 Principal (Retd) Ranjit Singh, Matan (April 15, 2000)
He was met on April 15, 2000 and confirmed what we had gained from the
villagers. He gave us the following additional information.
His brother had served in 6 J&K Militia and was killed in the 1947
Pakistan invasion in Gilgit Sector. After the Kargil conflict he
received a letter from the government that they were keen to reward the
family members of the martyr. He was asked to contact nearest RR Unit
HQ.
About 15 days before the Carnage he visited the RR Unit at Khul, 3 km
from Chithi Singhpora to meet the OC (a major). At the gate he met the
Subedar who spoke to him in Urdu and said "Vidhai Ho"
("Congratulations") I was surprised and asked why Vidhai. He said,
"Militants come to your village freely and frequently. You also feed
them and look after them well. They also stay overnight and enjoy your
hospitality". I was taken aback and told him I know nothing about this
and do not belong to Chithi Singhpora. On that he kept silent and
proceeded in a vehicle on After that I returned because the OC refused to meet me. Message given
to me was that government is already processing my case directly with
the local authorities.
I narrated this incident to Gyani Rajinder Singh of Chithi Singhpora.
Ranjit Singh also informed us about the existence of a village named
Jatre Maidak near by from Chithi Singhpora. Residents are mainly of
Mghan origin with some Gujjars. The armed visitors to Chithi Singhpora
used to often spend the nights in this village after their visit to
Chithi Singhpora.
At about 1 p.m. on March 20, 2000 a boy from Matan owning land near the
above village went to scatter manure in his fields. He was warned by the
villagers to go away immediately as a lot of militants had gathered in
the village.
2.9 Sardar Niranjan Singh, Huthamara (April 15, 2000)
Sardar Niranjan Singh, MSc. Teacher by Profession is resident of Village
Huthamara, 6 krn from Anantnag. He is the elected President (under Sikh
Gurdwara Religious Endowment Act) of District Gurdwara Parbhandak
Committee (DGPC), Anantnag. He is a prominent and well informed resident
of the area. Also member of the Joint Action Committee of the Sikhs with
HQ at Srinagar. He was well informed about the carnage at Chithi
Singhpora as he claimed to have visited the village a number of times
after the incident. His first visit was at 1 a.m. on March 21, 2000
(Night of the Carnage). He had the following to say:
President Bill Clinton's visit was confirmed about two months before he
visited India. Soon after this so-called militants started visiting
village Chithi Singhpora. They were dressed in shirts/trousers under a
Phiran, wore rubber boots and cap. Mixed with Sikhs freely. Spoke Pahari/Gujjar
language. Said they are residents of Lahore and Faisalabad. Had weapons
which they hung on trees very carelessly. Played cricket with boys.
They told one lady "we have come from Lahore and were given Rupees one
Lakh by Pakistan government and also promised rupees one Lakh more for
each Killing in J & K".
On day of carnage CO of the killer group was seen drinking liquor from
half bottle by a lady belonging to Jagir Singh's family just before the
killings. She saw this from her house through the glass panes as it is
located next to the Gurdwara.
They used to buy Kulchas from Muslims and take them with tea from Sikhs.
Challenged Sikh youths to a one day cricket match which was turned down
by the Sikh elders.
They would carelessly hang their weapons on trees and appeared to fear
no threat from the security forces.
My uncle Sardar Kashinder Singh BDO r/o my village knew a Jawan
(soldier) of RR Unit located at Siel and used to visit him. Twenty days
before the carnage, on his visit he was told by the Jawan, "Militants
visit Chithi Singhpora too often. I hope Sikh Bhais (Brothers) do not
get killed some day". This RR Unit was then deployed in the village
after the March 20. 2000 incident. Again my uncle visited Chithi
Singhpora. The RR Jawan told him. "See I told you. This would happen."
When asked if these visitors to Chithi Singhpora before the carnage were
foreign mercenaries, he replied, "As a rule foreign mercenaries normally
visit a village once and do not come back again. So these men cannot be
militants. Also real militants do not part with their weapons even for a
minute."
Wife to Havildar Nanak Singh of Chithi Singhpora has recognized killers
as same people who used to come often. She saw and recognized one of
these men on day of the carnage when he came to her house and dragged
her son away inspite of her appeals. He averted showing his face to her
but she recognized him.
Karmajit Singh of Chithi Singhpora who escaped the killings has also
given a statement on TV at Srinagar that the killers were the same men
who used to visit the village. Some people say that the tall man (CO)
and some others had not been seen earlier.
2.10 Karamjit Singh, Eyewitness Of Massacre (April 16, 2000)
After some effort the team managed to meet and discuss the Chithi
Singhpora massacre with eyewitness Karamjit Singh alias Kuku. He is a
teacher by profession and well educated. He was guarded throughout but
gave us details of the massacre as seen by him as under:
At about 7:00 p.m. on March 20, 2000 he had gone to the Muslim quarter
to fetch milk for his family. There he met Jagir Singh of the same
village and was talking to him when he heard a voice ordering the bus
driver and conductor of a static empty bus parked nearby, to get down.
The bus he said parks for the night near the village Gurdwara and goes
away next morning. The Muslim driver and conductor got out and were told
not to move from the positions.
At this I felt something was wrong. We met a tall man dressed in Army
uniform who was giving instructions to a few other unifonned men. When
asked what was happening he told me they had come for a "crack down". I
smelt liquor from his breath. He took us both towards the Gurdwara where
some other Sikhs of the village were already being lined up for checking
of identity.
Jagir Singh and I were told to join the others and sit down until
checking started. I sat next to Nanak Singh and told him I suspected
some foul playas we had never had such a checking before. I also told
him we should somehow get away from here. He did not agree. I then
walked up to the so-called CO (tall man) and asked him permission to
deliver the milk for my child who was not well. He replied "do Minute
Baitho, Hum Ne To Khana Purl Karni Hai" he then asked me to sit down and
went towards getting other Sikhs out of their houses. I saw the
so-called CO drinking liquor out of a bottle and got very restless and
suspicious. As soon as the CO was out of sight I escaped by crawling a
few yards and running away to my house. The nearest killer at that time
was about 20 yards away so I escaped.
On reaching my home I told my wife to switch off all lights as I felt
something bad was about to take place. I also suggested to my wife that
all male members were being collected and so all male family members
should run away out of the village. She disagreed and made a scene so I
even slapped her. However to save the situation we quickly closed all
doors and windows and went to first floor. As soon as we reached
upstairs we heard a burst of rifle fire. We were naturally very
frightened and remained hidden in our houses. We again heard rifle fire
and then loud shouts - then silence.
Much later I came out of the house and was witness to the massacre of
our villagers near both Gurdwaras. Nanaks Singh was alive and narrated
his version to me. He said on a gunshot signal from CO the whole group
opened fire on the innocent villagers lined up against the wall. Luckily
Nanak Singh was not hit but he fell down and pretended to be dead. After
some time the killers came again and Said "Ek Ek goli Aur Maro Sab Ko Ta
Key Koi Jinda Na Rahe". (Fire one more shot each so that no one may
escape death). A single shot was fired at each man from close range. In
this Nanak Singh was hit in the hips. After some time Nanak Singh and
another wounded Sikh named Sartaj Singh dragged themselves into the
Nambardar Naseeb Singh's house nearby and closed the door. After some
time the killers came again and fired another burst at the Victims to
ensure no one remained alive and shouted slogans and went away.
When asked the description of the earlier visitors to the village
Karamjit professed total ignorance. He said he never saw the visitors
during his stay in the village. He was present in the village from
February 28. 2000 onwards so this version is rather strange. He also
felt that this was the work of militants only.
Team Comments
Karamjit was very guarded throughout. His version of telling Nanak Singh
that they should escape together as something strange was happening is
not corroborated by Nanak Singh vide his statement published in Ajit
newspaper dated April 19 .2000.
Beside his whole narration appeared to be tutored. He was also all the
time saying that we must help him migrate to Jammu.
The team felt that they would not wholly on the veracity of Karamjit's
statement as he appeared to be under some pressure to narrate a tutored
version of his experience. We also have reasons to suspect that he may
have had past association with some security agency as he indicated that
he had frequently visited Batala and Gurdaspur a nursery of militants
and won-over militants during the Punjab turmoil.
2.11 Killing Of Five Innocent Civilians At Panchalthan (March 25, 2000)
The team visited the home of one of the victims i.e. Zahoor Ahmad Dalal,
resident of Mominabad near Anantnag.
We learnt first hand that the special task force (STF) under SSP
Anantnag picked up five civilians from different localities on March
24,2000. On March 25, 2000 fake encounter with so-called Afghan
militants was enacted at Panchalthan village. All five picked up
innocents men were killed. Their bodies burnt and defaced. A photograph
of this act published in Punjab Kesri dated March 26, 2000 is attached
as annexture to indicate the method adopted in this act. The face of the
victim in the photograph was covered with a phirn lest it be recognized
by his Kinsmen.
By March 31, 2000 the cat was out of the bag as the residents of
Anantnag proceeded in procession to the DC Anantnag's office to protest
these fake killings of innocent civilians. The police resorted to firing
and eight more protesting persons were killed. There were Hartal and
processions daily through out the valley until the State Chief Minister
Farooq Abdullah ordered the buried bodies of the five killed at
Panchalthan to be exhumed.
Relatives of Zahoor Ahmed Dalal recognized his body including his ring,
sweater and other clothing. Relatives of the other victims too
authoritatively recognized the half burnt bodies and claimed them. The
government allowed the relatives to take the bodies with the provision
that a DNA test be conducted by the government to confirm their
identity. It may be recalled that a similar DNA test done on a British
Foreigner Kidnapped by the militants had been turned down by the British
government. The conviction with which the concerned relatives recognized
and accepted the bodies should have closed this chapter. Strict action
should have been ordered against the perpetrators of this highly
criminal act.
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