25 Years of the Kiyar Dachhan Massacre: Kishtwar Remembers Eight Brave VDG Martyrs Who Made the Supreme Sacrifice
📍 Kiyar Dachhan, Kishtwar | 📅 1 August 2026
"While terrorism may claim lives, it can never defeat the resolve of those who stand for their nation and their people."
"Their supreme sacrifice stands as an enduring symbol of courage, patriotism, and the indomitable spirit of the people of Kishtwar — reminding future generations that while terrorism may claim lives, it can never defeat the resolve of those who stand for their nation and their people."
Silver Jubilee: Kishtwar Observes 25th Anniversary of Kiyar Dachhan Massacre
The people of Kiyar Dachhan in Kishtwar district on Saturday observed the 25th anniversary of one of the most tragic terrorist attacks in the history of the Chenab Valley. On August 1, 2000, Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, aided by local militants, carried out a barbaric massacre in Kiyar Dachhan, claiming the lives of eight brave members of the Village Defence Committee (VDC), now known as the Village Defence Group (VDG), who had dedicated themselves to protecting their village from terrorism.
The attack occurred during one of the most turbulent periods of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir when Pakistan-backed terrorist organisations were targeting remote villages to spread fear, disrupt communal harmony, and weaken public resistance against terrorism.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to eyewitness accounts and local residents, a group of heavily armed terrorists, accompanied by local terrorists, entered Kiyar Dachhan disguised as Indian Army personnel. Moving from house to house, they instructed villagers to assemble at a common location, claiming they had come to conduct a routine security operation.
However, their plan was challenged by Late Shri Duni Chand, a retired Army soldier and In-charge of the Village Defence Committee. Drawing upon his military experience, Shri Duni Chand became suspicious of the armed men and courageously demanded that they produce their Army Identity Cards to establish their identity. Instead of complying, the terrorists refused to show any identification. Realising that their disguise had been exposed, they immediately opened fire on Shri Duni Chand, killing him on the spot.
After eliminating the VDC In-charge, the terrorists forced the remaining villagers to assemble at gunpoint. They then identified the Village Defence Committee members and brutally executed them in cold blood.
Kiyar Dachhan Hindu Genocide- 8 Heroic VDG Martyrs of Kishtwar
The Eight Martyrs of Kiyar Dachhan
Survivors and the Injured
During the indiscriminate firing, Smt. Sarswati Devi, wife of Shri Jodh Ram, sustained injuries and miraculously survived the attack.
Amid the chaos, four villagers narrowly escaped death. Their survival later helped recount the horrifying sequence of events that unfolded that day:
- Shri Arjan Dass
- Shri Bhabi Chand
- Shri Tara Chand (Armyman)
- Shri Udh Ram (civilian)
A Village Scarred, A Nation That Stood Firm
The massacre plunged Kiyar Dachhan into deep mourning. Mothers lost their sons, wives lost their husbands, children were left without fathers, and an entire village was scarred by the brutal act of terrorism. The attack was not merely the killing of eight brave villagers; it was an attempt to break the spirit of a community that had consistently resisted terrorism and stood firmly with the nation.
The Kiyar Dachhan massacre was one among several terrorist incidents that shook Kishtwar during the late 1990s and early 2000s. During this period, terrorists repeatedly targeted innocent civilians, security personnel, and Village Defence Committee members across the district in an attempt to create fear and force migration from remote villages. Despite these repeated attacks, the people of Kishtwar remained united, and the Village Defence Committees played a crucial role in protecting vulnerable communities until security forces could respond.
Twenty-five years later, the sacrifice of these eight brave sons of the soil continues to inspire generations. Their courage, patriotism, and unwavering commitment to defending their homeland remain a proud chapter in the history of Kishtwar and the Chenab Valley.
On the Silver Jubilee of the Kiyar Dachhan Massacre, people from across the district paid floral tributes and offered prayers in memory of the martyrs. Community leaders and residents reaffirmed that the sacrifices of Duni Chand, Gover Dhan, Jagdish Raj, Satish Kumar, Satish Parihar, Kunj Lal, Dewan Chand, and Shambhu Nath will never be forgotten.
The description of the sequence of events — including the terrorists disguising themselves as Indian Army personnel, Shri Duni Chand asking them to produce identity cards, and the names of the survivors — is presented based on eyewitness accounts and local historical narratives associated with the incident. Where available, official records primarily confirm that eight Village Defence Committee members were killed in the Kiyar Dachhan attack on August 1–2, 2000.