Ex-cop defends Sajjan Kumar, says none died in 1984 riot!

Sajjan Kumar, along with five others, is facing trial for allegedly instigating a mob which killed six persons in Delhi Cantonment area during the riots in the wake of the assassination of erstwhile Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

75-year-old Chajju Ram, while deposing in defence of Kumar before Additional Sessions Judge Sunita Gupta said that during October 31, 1984, and November 6, 1984, it never came to his notice that "any Sikh in the (Raj Nagar-II) locality was killed or Sikhs' houses were looted and ransacked."

"It never came to my notice that any dead body was found on the road," said Chajju Ram, claiming "he had been on duty for all the five days without a break and a wink."

Maintaining that he was posted at Palam police post during those days, Chajju Ram said he did not notice any burnt house, dead bodies or ransacked houses in the area during his patrolling.

Countering Chajju Ram's deposition, riot victims' counsel H S Phoolka said that according to G T Nanavati Commission report, the official casualty figures shows that during the riots 341 persons were killed, while 385 houses, 110 shops and 45 vehicles were burnt in the area.