Chittisinghpura Massacre

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.

This upcoming Tuesday (20/03), marks the 18th anniversary of the Chittisinghpura Massacre. This is an event which isn't widely known about within our diaspora and so I thought I would highlight the massacre in this week's blog.

On the evening of March 20th 2000, a group of around 20 unidentified terrorists entered the small village of Chittisinghpura in Jammu and Kashmir. The terrorists were dressed in the uniform of the Indian Army and ordered all of the Sikhs, who had been celebrating Hola Mohalla, to be lined up outside of the village's Gurdwara. The group of terrorists opened fire, massacring 35 innocent Sikhs. There was only one survivor, Nanak Singh, whose son, Gurmeet Singh (16), and brother, Darbari Singh (30), were among the dead.

A member of the Islamic Fundamentalist militant group, Lashkar-e-Toiba, confessed his group's involvement in the massacre. This was an organised and targeted attack, as Sikhs were specifically targeted. The village was also home to many Hindus and Muslims, who were all spared in this act of pure hatred. Some of the Sikh widows recalled the names of their husbands being called out by the terrorists before they were butchered before their eyes.

In December 2000, Lashkar-e-Toiba militant, Suhail Malik, was arrested and he admitted to taking part in the massacre. He stated that he had no regret in carrying out the anti-Sikh massacre.

This horrible event is less remembered in our community, but efforts should be shown from the Sangat to increase the awareness of this massacre.

Bhul chuk maaf karni (forgive me for my many mistakes).

- Daas

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The importance of reading Kirtan Sohila

Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji

The importance of Nagar Kirtans