Delhi Police kept eyes closed during 1984 anti-Sikh riots: CBI

The CBI on Saturday told a court here that the Delhi police, acting in a pre-planned manner during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, kept its "eyes closed" to the violence.

In 1984 anti-Sikh riots case veteran Congress leader Sajjan Kumar has been accused of instigating a mob in Delhi cantonment area. CBI counsel R S Cheema said the city police "deliberately" did not act the way it was supposed to.

“This was a case where the police acted in a pre-planned manner and every policeman was keeping his eyes closed," Cheema told Additional Sessions Judge J R Aryan.
He said about 150 complaints were made regarding the riot incidents but only five FIRs were registered by the police.

"Whatever action was taken by the police was taken against the people who helped the Sikhs. Police did not take action against the main culprits. No policeman was recording complaint during the riots. They were not interfering to help the victims," he added.

Cheema said the police officials who were defence witnesses in the case, had later said in their statements that they had not seen anything during the riots.

The court asked the prosecutor if the CBI has any "direct evidence" against Sajjan Kumar and other five accused Kishan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal, Mahender Yadav, Balwan Khokkar and Captain Bhagmal to show they were instigating the mob to kill the Sikhs.

"Apart from the witnesses, do you have press reports or photographs published in the newspapers to show that Sajjan Kumar was addressing the mob? Do you have direct evidence against the accused?," the judge asked.

The CBI prosecutor told the court that they do not have the media reports but they have other direct evidences against accused. The CBI said it will show the evidences to the court on April 2, the next date of hearing.

"We have direct evidence of conspiracy against them (accused)," Cheema said.

Sajjan Kumar and the other five accused are facing trial on the charge of inciting mobs against the Sikh community during the riots.

“This was not a case of personal enmity. This was a pogrom. It was a case of massacre where people of a particular community in the society were targeted. People of the Sikh community were eliminated," Cheema added.

Six Sikhs were allegedly killed in Delhi Cantonment area during the riots that had broken out after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.

The case against Sajjan Kumar was registered in 2005 on a recommendation by Justice G T Nanavati Commission.

The CBI had filed two charge sheets against him and other accused in January 2010. The trial court had in May 2010 framed charges against Sajjan Kumar and five others under Sections 302 (murder), 395 (dacoity), 427 (mischief to cause damage to property), 153-A (promoting enmity between different communities) and other provisions of the IPC.