Shabir Shah says he’ll try to stop Sikh migration from Kashmir

The reaction to the Chitti Singhpora massacre was not spontaneous as, forthe first two days, the attack on the Sikhs had come as a shock to the majority community as well. Then there were announcements in the mosques inBaramulla, Kupwara and even Tral, not only disapproving of the attack butalso calling the Muslims to come out openly against such mysterious killings. Then there were also joint processions. The Hurriyat actingchairman, Molvi Umar Farooq, read a resolution at Jamia Masjid, condemningthe massacre and also demanding a probe by any international organisationeven including any non-Governmental group to ascertain the identity of theculprits involved.

Shah started from Gurdwara Chatti Padshahi, where he met the leadership of the Kashmiri Sikh community. “It is very important that the Muslims come outto show solidarity with them at this hour of distress and grief,” he said.“We will not let yet another conspiracy to divide Kashmiris. We will not allow another migration from Kashmir. We will not let anybody succeed in making the Sikhs leave the Valley like Kashmiri pandits,” he said.

“We will do everything to restore the confidence of the Sikhs,” Shahsaid. “I am personally visiting every gurdwara in the valley to meet thepeople and tell them how perturbed we are because of the barbaric andshameful act at Chitti Singhpora,” he said.

Shah said that he told the victims at Chitti Singhpora that nobody in Kashmir approved of such senseless brutality. “It is a conspiracy. And whosoever has committed this massacre is not a human,” he said.

Meanwhile, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference is to convene a specialmeeting tomorrow to discuss the issue. “We are going to discuss ourfuture course of action,” said Molvi Umar Farooq. “Such mysteriousbarbaric acts have to be prevented by exposing the culprits,” he said.