It has been more than 38 years and the victims of the 1984 Sikh genocide case still await for justice. Post the assassination of former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, violence erupted across Delhi in which hundreds of Sikhs were killed. A case was filed against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler over his alleged role in Pul Bangash killings during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. It was on June 30 that the court had summoned the records of the trial court connected with the case.
Court issues fresh notice
In a fresh notice issued by the Delhi Court, in which the person in-charge of the record room of a trial court was asked to produce the documents of a case against Tytler. The notice was issued by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Vidhi Gupta Anand.
As per the case,three people were killed and a gurdwara was torched in the Pul Bangash area here on November 1, 1984, a day after the killing of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
CBI prepares watertight chargesheet against Tytler
The CBI has filed a chargesheet before the special court in which it has mentioned that Tytler ”incited, instigated and provoked the mob assembled at Pul Bangash Gurdwara Azad Market” on November 1, 1984 that resulted in burning down of the gurdwara and killing of three Sikhs — Thakur Singh, Badal Singh and Guru Charan Singh.”
Charges Invoked against Tytler by the CBI
In the chargesheet which the CBI has filed against Tytler, it has invoked charges under sections 147 (rioting), 109 (abetment) read with 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). It is almost after 39 years that the chargesheet has been filed and charges of murder and rioting have been invoked against Tytler in the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Case.
In the past the Nanavati Commission of Inquiry was set up in 2000 to probe the riots that had occurred in 1984. After taking into account the Commission’s report, the Ministry of Home Affairs directed the CBI to probe the case against Tytler. CBI had earlier given a clean chit to Tytler. However, after the directive of the court they had to reopen the case in 2015.
Three witnesses testify against Tytler in the 1984 Anti-Riots case
The three witnesses who have testified against Tytler. One of them has e claimed that she saw Tytler coming out of his car and instigating the mob. The other witness said that she saw Tytler near the school and the third one said that Tytler was also seen at Pul Bangash where the riots had broken out. Meanwhile, the submission that has been made by the CBI has given the much needed impetus to the case and to all those who are seeking justice. It is on July 19 that the court will take cognisance of the plea of the CBI.
One of the victims, Athar Kaur has gone on record and has stated that the riots occurred during the rule of the Congress party and the police took no action. They took away women and children and the government did not take any steps to rescue us. They completely destroyed the Trilokpuri area and no one came for our assistance.
Another victim, Gappi Kaur said that Tytler stood and got the Sikhs killed in 1984. She further added that these were not riots and it was a government sponsored genocide. Gappi Kaur reiterated that she will fight for justice till her last breath and if she dies then her children will fight the case. She described the culprits of the 1984 anti-sikh riots as crocodiles and added that if they are not punished today then they would not spare their children also.
Bhagi Kaur, who is also the victim of the 1984 anti-sikh riots called for putting Tytler behind bars at the earliest. She alleged that Tytler along with Sajjan Kumar and also Kamalnath made the people stand in a queue and got them killed. Bhagi Kaur said that a number of houses were looted and women were raped.
Another victim, Avtar Singh said that it is unfortunate that no action has been taken against Tytler and others who are accused of instigating violence. He said that there are videos which show that Tytler and others are responsible for the 1984 riots and he himself has confessed that he had burnt 100 sikhs. Avtar Singh said that 11 of his family members were killed during the 1984 anti-sikh riots.
