Police tried to hush up 1984 riots cases: SIT

THE CENTRE TOLD THE SUPREME COURT THAT IT HAS ACCEPTED RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JUSTICE DHINGRA COMMISSION REPORT AND WILL TAKE ACTION SOON

NEW DELHI: Efforts by police to hush up criminal cases relating to 1984 anti-sikh riots resulted in crimes remaining unpunished and culprits going scot-free, a special investigation team (SIT) constituted by the Supreme Court India has concluded in its report.

“The basic reason for these crimes remaining unpunished and culprits going scot-free was the lack of interest shown by the police in handling cases as per law or to proceed with the intention of punishing the culprits,” the report submitted by the SIT, headed by former Delhi high court judge Justice SN Dhingra, said. The SIT also took a grim view of the manner in which the trial was conducted by the judges stating that “acquittals were handed by the judges in a routine manner”.

“The report shows that the whole system was paralysed. The police, the prosecuting agency and even the judiciary were all hand in glove to shield the culprits. It is shameful that the whole judicial system can be paralysed by powerful politicians. We are very proud of our strong legal system but this shows how easy it is for powerful politicians to scuttle the whole process,” senior counsel HS Phoolka, who is representing 1984 riot victims, told HT. Phoolka also clarified that no prominent leaders were accused in any of the FIRS, in which the SIT has recommended filing of appeals.

The SIT, which was constituted by the Supreme Court in January 2018 after a petition filed by Gurlad Singh Kahlon, a member of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, re-examined 199 cases connected to the 1984 anti-sikh riots that followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The SIT recommended that appeals be filed against acquittal of accused in eight FIRS — seven involving murder and one regarding bodily injury. Seven out the eight cases, in which accused were acquitted, were decided by judge SS Bal.

In another case, the SIT concluded that there was evidence against inspector Survir Singh Tyagi, who was the station house office at Kalyanpuri police station, of conspiring with the rioters. The report stated that Tyagi deliberately disarmed local Sikhs of their licenced firearms, so as to enable the rioters to indulge in killing and destruction of property. Though Tyagi was suspended, he was later reinstated and promoted to the rank of assistant commissioner of police.

Central government’s law officer Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the top court on Wednesday that the recommendations made by the SIT will be implemented.

The SIT, which comprised former Delhi HC judge SN Dhingra and IPS officer Abhishek Dular, had given publicity in newspapers and website of home ministry about its intention to re-examine the cases and had requested people to come forward with material and evidence regarding crimes.

However, the report lamented that nobody approached the SIT with any specific evidence relating to the culprits or witnesses.