New Delhi: The special investigation team (SIT) constituted to re-examine 186 cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots has started its process of tracing victims and witnesses. The SIT, initially, has published a list of 80 cases registered at different police stations of Delhi. 

The SIT is being headed by Justice SN Dhingra, who is a retired judge of the Delhi high court and had also probed the Haryana land scam in which Robert Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, is an accused. 

Justice Dhingra had also awarded death sentence to three of those involved in the conspiracy that led to the Parliament attack of 2001.

According to a recent public notice issued by Justice Dhingra, any person who has any information regarding 80 cases published by the SIT can appear before the probe team in the next 15 days.

“The special investigation team constituted under the order of Hon'ble Supreme Court dated 4th December, 2018 in the matter of S Gurlad Singh Kahlon vs Union of India & Ors vide Writ Petition (Crl) No 9/2016 invites the attention of the general public for seeking information in respect of under mentioned cases. Any person in possession of information in respect of these cases should submit the same in writing to the SIT at its office address,” the SIT said in its public notice. People can provide information within two weeks on the 80 cases related to the anti-Sikh riots.

After scrutinising the information and details given by the public, the SIT will ask the concerned people and witnesses to appear before the SIT for oral depositions so that they can be used in court. 

The SIT has also asked NGOs to help. “The NGOs or public-spirited persons are free to help such persons who have information in submitting the same to the SIT. The advocates, public-spirited persons/NGOs who intend to help the SIT may also make a request in writing, giving the details of the organisation and the information possessed by them,” Justice Dhingra said.

The SIT has given the names of 80 cases registered by the Delhi police, but the cops didn’t take appropriate action on all cases. The cases were registered in almost two dozen police stations. Some of the cases were registered after eight-nine years after the 1984 riots. The SIT will examine all cases and submit a report in the Supreme court.

The apex court had on December 4 ordered the constitution of a three-member SIT to re-examine 186 cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that followed Indira Gandhi's assassination.