The police also claimed that 13 foreign militants who were involved in the massacre were killed.

A Valley based Kashmiri Pandit's body challenged the police version on killing of 23 Pandits in Wandhama area of Ganderbal district on January 25, 1998 and asked the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) to reinvestigate the massacre.

"We urge the SHRC to order its own police investigation wing to carry out a thorough investigation into Wandhama massacre to ascertain the identities of the culprits and bring them to justice," Kashmiri Pandit Sangarash Samati (KPSS) said on Monday.

About the massacre of 23 Kashmiri Pandits, police investigation had stated that the killing was carried out by Harkat-ul-Ansar outfit.

In February 1998, police had said six militants of Harkat-ul-Ansar were killed in Safapora area of Ganderbal and another injured militant was apprehended.

"On interrogation the injured militant before his death, according to the police, divulged about involvement of 21 members of Harkat-ul-Ansar in killing of the victims," KPSS president Sanjay Tickoo said.

He said the police also claimed that 13 other foreign militants who were involved in the massacre were killed later.

The Kashmiri Pandit Sangarash Samati demanded that the police should furnish copies of FIRs and investigation reports under which they claim that these foreign militants were killed in encounters with armed forces.

"Based on the police response there should be two FIRs where the killings of these foreign militants have been registered and investigated. We urge that the police should be asked to provide a list of these 20 foreign militants killed and the place where they have been buried," Tickoo said.

He said the statement of the injured militant, who later died in the hospital as per the police, was crucial.

"It forms the basis of the police investigation regarding the massacre. Therefore, we request the SHRC to order the police department to submit the statement and record the statement of the officer who recorded it. Both should be submitted before the Commission."

Tickoo filed the application with the SHRC saying that KPSS felt the police had not done the needful in terms of punishing the culprits responsible for the massacre.