Following Success With Exclusion Of Tytler, Five Others Involved In November 1984 Sikh Genocide Targeted At The Sikh Lobby

[Nirvair S Khalsa]

FOLLOWING SUCCESS WITH EXCLUSION OF TYTLER, FIVE OTHERS INVOLVED IN NOVEMBER 1984 SIKH GENOCIDE TARGETED AT THE SIKH LOBBY

On the 25th anniversary of the anti-Sikh pogroms of November 1984 a briefing was provided to MPs with the aim of stopping visas from being issued to known perpetrators.

The briefing provided an outline into the anti Sikh pogroms and a description of those who have been identified as being guilty but have not been brought to justice.

MPs were urged to get the Foreign Office to Inform the European Union that those who are listed in this document should not be entitled to visit, or stay in the EU on any basis due to their part in the 1984 anti Sikh pogroms. A further request was made that the Foreign Secretary asks the Indian Government to remove Tytler from the Volunteers' Committee of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee due to his role in instigating violent attacks on Sikhs. It is hoped Sikhs in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries belonging to the Commonwealth can take similar steps with their respective governments.

Other than Jagdish Tyler the other five named were:

Sajjan Kumar - The police filed the first case in 1984, accusing Kumar and 10 accomplices of instigating riots in the Sultanpuri area of Delhi, killing 49 people. In 1987, the Jain Bannerjee Commission recommended filing a case against Sajjan Kumar in 1987, however, it was not registered. The CBI filed the second case in 1990, acting on a complaint by a Sikh widow called Anwar Kaur. She accused Kumar of leading the mob that killed her husband in Sultanpuri on November 1, 1984. In August 1990, Potti-Rosha Committee issued recommendations for filing cases based on affidavits submitted but victims of the violence. There was one against Sajjan Kumar. A CBI team went to Kumar's home to file the charges. His supporters locked them up and threatened them harm if they persisted in their designs on their leader.

The Nanavati Commission claimed evidence against congressmen Kumar for instigating the mobs to violence. In April 2009 Kumar sought to re-enter politics by opting to stand for the Lok Sabha elections on behalf of the Congress Party. Due to wide spread condemnation on behalf of Sikhs and human rights activists the Congress Party withdrew their selection.

Babu Ram Sharma - Member of Municipal Corporation and reported to be the right-hand man of H. K. L. Bhagat, a leading perpetrator of the massacre (now deceased). The Nanavati Commission made a number of references to Sharma's involvement in looting, arson and murder in the following areas of Delhi: Yamuna areas- Babarpur, Chajupur Colony, Maujpur, Gonda. Sharma is said to have led people on motorcycles with a megaphone.

Mangat Ram Singal - Member of Municipal Corporation was reportedly with Dharam Das Shastri (now deceased but named in the Nanavati Commission as a key instigator of the pogroms). Currently the Minister of Social Welfare, Labour, Employment, Law Justice & Legislative Affairs and Election, Government of NCT of Delhi. The People's Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) and People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) also named him among the alleged instigators of the 1984 pogroms.

R. D. Malhotra - Police Officer in the East District of Delhi at Shakarpur. Reported to have invited mobs, heard to say "You should have blown up the Gurdwaras in addition to killing Bhatia'' (Congress worker, Trilochan Singh Bhatia). A mob was accompanied by Malhotra, who moved with one jeep, station-wagon, two men with sten-guns and revolvers, petrol-cans and stones. He supplied weapons to the mob, according to eye-witness accounts. He also reportedly incited mobs at Laxmi Nagar, Gurunangal Nagar.

Malhotra was the Supervisory Officer in charge at Police Station Krishna Nagar located in the centre of the District. The total number of persons killed in this Police Station, as per Police records, was sixteen whereas according to the Relief Commissioner, the figure was 86. The incidents of violence in the Police Station started in the morning of November 1, 1984. A number of shops at Lal Quarters were set on fire during the day between 1200 hours to 1500 hours. The most serious incident the burning of the house of the owner of Swaran Cinema.

As it appeared that many police officers and the policemen had either failed to perform their duty by remaining indifferent or had helped the mobs in their violent activities, notices were given to all of them, including ACP Shri R.D. Malhotra.

Hari Ram Bhatti - Police Officer at Sultanpuri, reported to have helped the mob by disarming the Sikhs. On November 1 and 2 it is alleged that he himself killed Sikhs. On 3 and 4 reported to have had the Sikhs shaven at gun point. The police involvement may be summed up in words of one survivor ''they themselves killed: they were in complicity''. Bhatti was issued with a Section 8B Notice further to allegations against him by witnesses.

In the briefing it was pointed out that the evidence outlined is supported by independent human rights organisations and hundreds of Sikhs. Reference was also given in the briefing to a list of more than 200 named perpetrators.