A dark and long-silenced chapter of history has resurfaced as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, leader of the Khalistan Movement, unveiled explosive claims about the Chattisinghpora massacre that took place 25 years ago. The massacre, which occurred during the visit of then-U.S. President Bill Clinton to India in March 2000, has remained one of the most controversial and tragic events in Kashmir’s recent history.
Pannun stated that the killings were politically motivated and carried out under the BJP-led government of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. According to him, five innocent locals were falsely branded as Pakistani terrorists and executed to cover up the real story. He cited the 2006 admission by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which confirmed that those killed had been wrongly accused.
In a dramatic revelation, Pannun claimed that an Indian Army captain involved in the operation, identified only as Captain Rathore, came forward years later to confess. After spending years in hiding, Rathore allegedly met with Pannun at his New York office and disclosed details of the massacre, which he claimed was a false flag operation aimed at framing Pakistan during Clinton’s visit.
According to Rathore, Indian troops entered the Sikh village of Chattisinghpora disguised as militants. He said the villagers trusted them, unaware of the deadly plan. On March 20, 2000, under direct orders, he claimed his unit rounded up 35 Sikh men and lined them up against a wall before opening fire. He alleged that a second round of gunfire was used to ensure none survived. Rathore also claimed the unit shouted patriotic slogans afterward to mask the true nature of the killings.
Rathore named Brigadier J.S. of the Rashtriya Rifles as the commanding officer of the operation and claimed the government later killed off the entire firing squad to eliminate witnesses and erase evidence of the massacre. After escaping to Europe and eventually the United States, Rathore reportedly lived in secrecy before deciding to reveal the truth.
Pannun described the massacre as a state-sanctioned atrocity and questioned who would be held accountable. “Everyone knows there is no statute of limitations on justice,” he said, adding that the truth must be acknowledged and those responsible brought to justice.
