Indian Embassy in US accuses Pak of `deflecting blame'

Indian Embassy in US accuses Pak of `deflecting blame'
UNITED NEWS OF INDIA

WASHINGTON, MARCH 29: The Indian Embassy here has accused Pakistan of trying to deflect the blame for the March 20 Chattsinghpora massacre to misguide the Sikh community in the United States and drive a wedge between Sikhs in the US and

their brethren in India.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Embassy said a campaign had been launched by some people in the US saying the inhuman killing of 36 Sikh villagers in Chattsinghpora village of Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir was the handiwork of the Indian security forces.

``It is significant that the timing of the massacre coincided with the visit of the US President to India. Obviously, the terrorist groups and their Pakistani mentors wanted to create trouble to overshadow the visit. It is also significant that this was the first large-scale attack of terrorist group on the sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir,'' it said.

It said the object was clearly to further their campaign of ethnic cleansing and evoke communal disharmony in the State and elsewhere in India.

It gave details of the investigation into the case, claiming a breakthrough with the arrest of Yakub Wagey, a terrorist belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen, who was a resident of Chattsinghpora.

Wagey had revealed that the massacre was the handiwork of a group of 16 to 17 terrorists, including six militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen and 11 to 12 foreign mercenaries owing allegiance to the Lashkar-e-Toiba.

It said Wagey had admitted that they were briefed to kill Sikhs. In pursuance of their plan, on the night of March 20, the group had divided itself into two and proceeded to Akalipora and Showkeenpora mohallas of village Chattsinghpora.

On reaching the spot, they called out all the males along with their local headman and shot at them. After carrying out the crime, the group divided itself into three parts, it said.