SIT probing anti-Sikh riots cases questions Sajjan Kumar

Team Udayavani, Mar 5, 2017, 11:55 AM IST

New Delhi: The SIT, which is re-investigating 58 cases of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, has questioned Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in connection with the murder of a father-son duo in West Delhi.

Kumar was interrogated in the case of murder of Jaswant Singh and his son during the riots in Punjabi Bagh in November 1984, official sources said.

The incident was reportedly witnessed by Singh’s wife, who had claimed that she saw Kumar allegedly instigating mob, sources said.

Delhi Police had filed a case at Punjabi Bagh police station in the matter in 1991 but closed the probe in 1993.

The three-member Special Investigation Team, comprising IPS officer Anurag, retired District Judge Rakesh Kapoor and Delhi Police DCP Kumar Gyanesh, questioned the Congress leader Thursday.

Kumar has been questioned four times since last year for the anti-Sikh riots cases.

The SIT has already submitted a report to the Supreme Court about the progress of its probe.

It is said to have conveyed to the Supreme Court that investigation in most of the cases have almost been completed.

The SIT was set up by the Home Ministry to re-investigate appropriately serious criminal cases filed in the National Capital Territory of Delhi relating to the 1984 riots.

There were around 650 cases registered in Delhi for anti-Sikh riots.

A total of 3,325 people were killed in the riots in which Delhi alone accounted for 2,733 deaths, while the rest took place in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states.

Delhi Police had closed 241 cases citing lack of evidence. Justice Nanavati Commission had recommended reopening of only four of them.

The CBI had reopened and re-investigated only four cases. In two of them, the probe agency had filed a charge sheet and in one, five persons, including a former MLA, were convicted.

The SIT was set up on February 12, 2015 following a recommendation by the Home Ministry-appointed Justice (retd) G P Mathur committee.

Earlier, Kumar was questioned about the allegations that he instigated a mob in Janakpuri on November 1, 1984, which led to the killing of two Sikhs — Sohan Singh and his son-in-law Avtar Singh.

This particular case was earlier closed by CBI, citing lack of evidence against Kumar.

Apart from Kumar, the SIT also examined several other persons, including some Delhi Police officers, who had earlier handled the probe.