'There was an abject failure by the police to investigate the violence which broke out in the aftermath of the assassination of the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi is apparent from the several circumstances highlighted herein above,' the high court said quoting multiple lapses
New Delhi: The Delhi high court judgement which has found Congress leader Sajjan Kumar guilty in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, has also exposed how protectors turned predators in Delhi during the riots. The Delhi Police responsible to protect the citizens were helping the rioters to target Sikhs and it was “free for all” situation, the court observed.
On Monday, the Delhi high court sentenced Sajjan Kumar to life imprisonment.
The court has given multiple instances which has exposed the Delhi Police’s intentions, showing how they worked as per the demands of their political masters instead of following the law of the land.
Also read — Sajjan Kumar jailed for 1984 anti-Sikh massacre: How Delhi high court called out Rahul Gandhi's bluff
According to the court, the Delhi Police failed to examine important witnesses and completely favoured and helped the Congress leaders involved in the riots.
It was alleged that the riotous mob was trying to kill a Sikh after dousing him with kerosene. After a few futile attempts, a policeman came to the aid of the rioters. He fumed, “Doob maro, tumse ek sardar bhi nahin jalta” (Shame on you! You cannot burn even one Sikh to death).
There have been multiple allegations against the police personnel deployed at various locations to maintain law and order situation.
Similarly, another allegation was that a Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) allegedly said to a Sikh who was trying to file a case, “Bhag yahan se, abhi to aur marenge, jab sab mar jaenge jo kuch hoga sabka ekattha hoga” (Shoo! They will kill more. When all of you die, all the cases will be dealt with together).
The court after hearing both the sides, has said, "The law and order machinery clearly broke down and it was literally a free for all situation which persisted. The aftershocks of those atrocities are still being felt," the Delhi high court said in its order.
"There was an abject failure by the police to investigate the violence which broke out in the aftermath of the assassination of the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi is apparent from the several circumstances highlighted herein above," the high court said quoting multiple lapses.
The court also said that the police failed to register separate FIRs with respect to the five deaths which was the subject matter in the case. The police also didn't record any incident in their daily diary.
"There was an utter failure to register separate FIRs with respect to the five deaths that form the subject matter of the present appeals. The failure to record any incident whatsoever in the DDR and the lack of mention of PW-1’s statement therein, amongst other circumstances, established the apathy of the Delhi Police and their active connivance in the brutal murders being perpetrated," the court said.
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