1998 Chamba massacre
The 1998 Chamba massacre of thirty-five Hindus was perpetrated by terrorists in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh in India on 3 August 1998.[1][2]
Background
Since 1989, an insurgency has gripped the restive Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Terrorists in the separatist insurgency had been suspected of perpetrating several massacres in the state.
The Attacks
The Pakistan-trained terrorists massacred 35 Hindus, mostly labourers, and injured 11 in the Chamba district bordering Doda in Jammu on early hours of that day.[3] The massacre took place in two separate incidents at Kalaban and Satrundi. Twenty-six people were killed and eight injured in the Kalaban area under Police Station Tissa of Chamba District. In another incident, at about 1:30 a.m. that morning, five people were killed and three injured in village Satrindi, District Chamba. News of the massacre became public when two of the injured at Kalaban—Dhian Singh and Beli Ram—with blood oozing from their wounds, trudged eight kilometers through the dense forests report the mayhem to the nearest Mansa police post. The massacre led to conflict between Gujjars (entirely Muslims) and Gaddis (entirely Hindus).[4]
This was the first such incident in Himachal Pradesh.[5]
The aftermath
Top Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists Billu Gujjar was arrested in Pathankot by Punjab Police a few days later in connection with this attack.[6]
References
- ↑ Ultras gun down 35 in Himachal, The Indian Express, 1998-08-04
- ↑ Terrorists massacre 35 in Chamba, The Tribune, 1998-08-04. Accessed 2009-03-23. Archived 2009-05-11.
- ↑ Jammu and Kashmir Militants Gun Down 35 in Chamba District
- ↑ An unquiet peace, Frontline (magazine), 1998-10-10
- ↑ http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/aug/06kash.htm
- ↑ Top Hizbul ultra, aides held for Chamba killings, The Indian Express, 1998-08-16