Khalsa school built in memory of Chittisingpura victims reopened

On a visit to the Kashmir valley, Akal Takht officiating jathedar Kuldip Singh Gargaj announced to reopen Khalsa School which was constructed in the memory of 35 innocent Sikhs gunned down by unidentified gunmen in the year 2000 in Chittisinghpura village.

Accompanying him was Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami who announced that efforts would be made to restart the Khalsa School established by the SGPC.

He informed that a committee would be constituted to prepare a plan to make the school functional again so that uninterrupted education can be imparted and this will be taken up in the upcoming executive meeting of the SGPC.

Jathedar Gargaj said the SGPC remains active for the welfare of Sikhs across the country and the world and sharing the grief of the families of the victims of Chittisinghpura massacre and establishing a school in their memory reflects the collective spirit of the community.

Giani Rajinder Singh, who carried out the Kar Sewa to establish the school in 1994, said the school had to be closed down due to insufficient funds about two years back. He recalled that the SGPC had constructed a double-storey building with 12 rooms when Avtar Singh Makkar was the SGPC president. Makkar remained SGPC president from 2005 to 20016.

Demanding that the SGPC take control of its management, he said it would benefit Sikh families living in about 400 houses in the village. He added that the school was situated in the middle of the village and the district headquarter which is situated in Anantnag falls about 10 km from his village.

The school, which is affiliated to Jammu and Kashmir Education Board, will attract students from far off areas as it is built over 10 kanal of land and the building is in fine condition.