Re-probe Chattisinghpora, Pathribal cases: Sikh body tells SC

A Kashmir-based Sikh group has demanded a re-investigation into the Chattisinghpora Sikh massacre case and the subsequent Pathribal fake encounter case.

In a letter to the Supreme Court, All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee headed by Jagmohan Singh Raina asked Justices B S Chauhan and Swatanter Kumar to hold a fresh probe into both these incidents.

"A comprehensive and time-bound enquiry into the killing of 36 Sikhs at Chattisingpura (in March 2000) is the only way to find out the truth about all the events that took place after that massacre," Raina told PTI.

Lashkar-e-Toiba militants allegedly carried out massacre of Sikhs in Chattisinghpura village in March 2000, days ahead of arrival of then US president Bill Clinton in India for an official visit.

Army claimed to have killed the five "militants" involved in the massacre few days later but a CBI probe has concluded that the deceased were innocent civilians.

The premier investigating agency filed a chargesheet against five armymen, including a Brigadier in a civil court, but Army challenged the move in higher courts on the grounds that sanction for prosecution has not been sought as required under AFSPA.

The matter is pending before the Supreme Court as Army has got no relief from the sub-ordinate courts.

"We welcome the Supreme Court's condemnation of the Pathribal incident (killing of five civilians) in March 2000 and terming it as a sceptical encounter. All those responsible for it should be brought to the book," Raina said