Sajjan Kumar charged with inciting 1984 rioters (Roundup)

NEW DELHI - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Wednesday filed two charge sheets against former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar and others in two cases of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The agency said he incited a mob of around 300-400 people to kill, burn Sikhs and pillage their houses.

Two charge sheets were filed before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kaveri Baweja at the Tis Hazari Courts here. This is the first time the CBI has charge sheeted Sajjan Kumar.

The CBI also filed a closure report in a case pertaining to the death of Iqbal Singh Chadda, a doctor in Mangolpuri area, during the riots. The case was closed due to lack of evidence and witnesses.

The first charge sheet relates to the killing of five people in the Delhi Cantonment area, and the second to the death of many in riots in Sultanpuri. The investigating agency charged Sajjan Kumar and others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 302 (murder), 153-A (rioting) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy).

The CBI said Sajjan Kumar incited a mob in Raj Nagar of Palam area to attack and set fire to a gurdwara, burn vehicles and houses of Sikhs. It said that the mob also caught hold of Nirmal Singh and burnt him alive.

Sajjan Kumar arrived in Raj Nagar in his Ambassador car around 10 p.m. Nov 1, 1984. He instigated the unlawful assembly by provoking it not to leave any Sikh alive, besides not even sparing any Hindus who had provided shelter to Sikhs, a CBI spokesman said.

Ater instigating the unlawful assembly, Sajjan Kumar left Raj Nagar and the mob looted the house of Jagsher Singh and thereafter set it on fire. The mob also looted the houses of other Sikhs residing in the area and attacked the house of (a person called) Rajni where Raghuvinder Singh, Narender Pal Singh and Kuldeep Singh had taken shelter.

The mob then burnt alive Raghuvinder Singh, Narender Pal Singh and Kuldeep Singh in Raj Nagar area on the morning of Nov 2, 1984,” the spokesman added.

The CBI said investigations also proved that Sajjan Kumar instigated a mob of about 300-400 people assembled at B-2 Block park at Sultanpuri to kill members of the Sikh community.

The riots resulted in the killing of Hoshiar Singh, Mohan Singh, Ranjeet Singh, Basant Singh and his two sons Balbir Singh and Balihar Singh, and many others, the spokesman added.

After the charge sheet was filed, the court transferred all the cases to Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Lokesh Kumar at Karkardooma courts, and listed the case for hearing Jan 18. Hearing of all cases under trial related to the anti-Sikh riots are being held in the Karkadooma courts.

The CBI filed the charge sheets after Delhi Lt. Governor Tejendra Khanna gave it the go-ahead Dec 31 to prosecute Sajjan Kumar in four cases of murder and communal rioting related to the 1984 anti-Sikh carnage.

Two cases were registered in the Sultanpuri police station and one each was registered in Mangolpuri and Delhi Cantonment police stations. The CBI is yet to file a report in the fourth case.

Former parliamentarian Sajjan Kumar is accused of instigating mobs that went on the rampage, killing over 3,000 Sikhs across Delhi in 1984 following the assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi.

The sanction was required as Sajjan Kumar is a former MP and has been charged under Section 153-A of the IPC (spreading enmity between two communities).

After the charges were finalised, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said: My party does not believe in interfering in the judicial process.

Those fighting for justice for the victims of the riots welcomed the move.

It is a relief but it should have been done long ago. What we have been saying for the last 25 years was proved today. But we will truly be happy the day these accused will be punished, said Baburam Dukhiya, who runs an organisation for 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims.

Senior advocate H.S. Phoolka, who is fighting for justice in the riot cases, said the charge sheet had come too late.

But we are happy that it is better late than never. We will oppose his (Sajjan Kumar) bail plea. Victims’ families are hopeful that they will get some justice, Phoolka told IANS.