1984 anti-Sikh riots: Centre-led SIT to reopen 75 cases

Ahead of the upcoming Assembly Elections in Punjab , the Home Ministry appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) is likely to reopen and investigate around 75 cases related to the anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, that had earlier been closed. The ministry had constituted the SIT on February 12,  2015 on the recommendation of a committee headed by former Supreme Court judge GP Mathur (retd). It was expected to reopen cases which Delhi Police didn’t proceed further with due to lack of evidence.

Delhi Police had closed 241 cases citing lack of evidence. The Justice Nanavati Commission had recommended reopening of only four of the 241 cases closed by police but BJP wanted re-investigation of all the other 237 cases. Delhi alone accounted for 2,733 deaths while the rest occurred in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states.

It means now cases involving Congress leaders Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar are likely to be reopened. Now according to the sources, the SIT has decided to reopen around 75 such cases after a erview. A total of 3,325 people were killed in the riots that had broken out following then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination .

Sources say, the SIT could soon issue advertisements to look for victims and witnesses to come forward and join the probe. Home Ministry last month had announced Rs 2 lakh each for families who had been hit by the riots and migrated to Punjab from different parts of the country, will be given as part of a centrally-sponsored rehabilitation scheme.