A case related to the 1984 Sikh riots is once again in the news. Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, who is already serving a life sentence in one of the riot cases, has denied the charges against him in another case related to the violence in Janakpuri and Vikaspuri. During the hearing in the court of Special Judge Digvinay Singh at the Rouse Avenue Court, Sajjan Kumar claimed that he was not present at the scene of the incident and there is no evidence against him. The court has fixed the next hearing of the case on July 29, 2025.
Is the case related to the massacre incident?
This case is related to the killing of Sohan Singh and his son-in-law Avtar Singh in Janakpuri on November 1, 1984 and the burning of Gurcharan Singh in Vikaspuri. After the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984, the Sikh genocide began in many parts of the country, including Delhi. According to official figures, 2,733 Sikhs were killed in Delhi alone, while Sikh organizations claim 8,000 to 17,000 deaths. Sajjan Kumar is accused of inciting the mob to commit violence against Sikhs in these incidents. In 2015, the Special Investigation Team started an investigation into the matter and registered a case against Sajjan Kumar under several sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Who are the witnesses?
The main witness in this case is Manjit Kaur, who recorded her statement in the court on November 9, 2023. Manjit Kaur said that she had heard from the crowd during the violence that Sajjan Kumar was also present, although she did not see him with her own eyes. Apart from this, many witnesses have also come forward in other cases of the 1984 Sikh genocide. Like Cham Kaur, who on November 16, 2018, had identified Sajjan Kumar in the Patiala House Court and said that he was inciting the mob to kill Sikhs. Jagsher Singh and Jagdish Kaur are also among those who testified against Sajjan Kumar.
Who are the lawyers?
Senior lawyer H.S. Phoolka has played a key role in the trial against Sajjan Kumar. Phoolka has helped in getting the culprits punished in many cases while representing the victims of the Sikh genocide. He even left the post of Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha for this purpose. Apart from this, lawyers like Sutirath Wazir have also collected the testimonies of the victims and presented them in the court, whose book ‘The Causes of 1984’ details these events.
40 years have passed since the Sikh genocide, but the victims are still waiting for justice. The court proceedings and witness testimonies against key accused like Sajjan Kumar have raised a small hope of justice.
