Pronouncement of judgement by a Karkardooma court acquitting Congress leader Sajjan Kumar on Tuesday led to severe protests among crowds gathered in and around the court premises. The families of riot victims expressed remonstration in the court, while an angry young man hurled a shoe at the judge inside the courtroom, who was later arrested by the police.
District Judge J R Aryan on Tuesday acquitted Sajjan Kumar in one of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases, while convicting other five accused, three of whom were sentenced for murder of five persons in the Delhi Cantonment area. The killings happened during violence against the Sikhs that ensued on 1 and 2 November, 1984 following the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi on 31 October. The five accused have been convicted for rioting, being armed with deadly weapons and murder.
The five Sikh victims – Kehar Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Raghuvender Singh, Narender Pal Singh and Kuldeep Singh – were members of the same family and were killed by the mob in Delhi Cantonment’s Raj Nagar area. Kehar and Gurpreet were the husband and son respectively of complainant and eyewitness Jagdish Kaur. Raghuvender, Narender and Kuldeep were her brothers.
Sajjan Kumar was facing trial along with Balwan Khokkar, Mahender Yadav, Girdhari Lal, Kishan Khokkar and Captain Bhagmal for allegedly conspiring and inciting a mob against the Sikh community. Balwan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal were held guilty for the offence of murder under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC which entails death penalty as maximum punishment, while Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokkar were convicted for the offence of rioting only. The court will hear arguments on the quantum of sentence on 6 May.
The case against Sajjan Kumar was registered in 2005 on a recommendation of Nanavati Commission.
District Judge J R Aryan on Tuesday acquitted Sajjan Kumar in one of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases, while convicting other five accused, three of whom were sentenced for murder of five persons in the Delhi Cantonment area. The killings happened during violence against the Sikhs that ensued on 1 and 2 November, 1984 following the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi on 31 October. The five accused have been convicted for rioting, being armed with deadly weapons and murder.
The five Sikh victims – Kehar Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Raghuvender Singh, Narender Pal Singh and Kuldeep Singh – were members of the same family and were killed by the mob in Delhi Cantonment’s Raj Nagar area. Kehar and Gurpreet were the husband and son respectively of complainant and eyewitness Jagdish Kaur. Raghuvender, Narender and Kuldeep were her brothers.
Sajjan Kumar was facing trial along with Balwan Khokkar, Mahender Yadav, Girdhari Lal, Kishan Khokkar and Captain Bhagmal for allegedly conspiring and inciting a mob against the Sikh community. Balwan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal were held guilty for the offence of murder under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC which entails death penalty as maximum punishment, while Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokkar were convicted for the offence of rioting only. The court will hear arguments on the quantum of sentence on 6 May.
The case against Sajjan Kumar was registered in 2005 on a recommendation of Nanavati Commission.