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{{Short description|Series of organised pogroms in India after PM Indira Gandhi's assassination}} |
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{{redirects here|Sikh genocide|the genocide of 1762|Sikh holocaust of 1762|the genocide of 1746|Sikh holocaust of 1746}} |
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{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}} |
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{{Infobox civilian attack |
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{{Infobox civil conflict |
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| title = 1984 anti-sikh Genocide |
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| title = 1984 anti-Sikh riots <!-- Reliable sources use the term "riots"; do not change, especially to "genocide", until a consensus for the change is reached after discussion on the talk page. --> |
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| image = Sikh man surrounded 1984 pogroms.jpg |
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| partof = the [[Insurgency in Punjab, India]] |
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| alt = Sikh man being surrounded and beaten |
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| image = Sikh man surrounded 1984 pogroms.jpg |
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| caption = Sikh man surrounded and beaten by a mob |
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| date = 31 October – {{end date and age|df=yes|1984|11|3}} |
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| place = [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[Delhi]], [[Haryana]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]]<ref name="Brass">{{cite book |last1=Brass |first1=Paul R. |title=Riots and Pogroms |date=2016 |publisher=Springer |isbn=9781349248674 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EBq_DAAAQBAJ&q=1984+riots+hindi+heartland+haryana&pg=PA201|access-date=15 October 2020 |archive-date=6 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906071337/https://books.google.com/books?id=EBq_DAAAQBAJ&q=1984+riots+hindi+heartland+haryana&pg=PA201 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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| causes = [[Assassination of Indira Gandhi]] |
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| goals = * [[Religious persecution]] |
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| target = Sikhs |
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* [[Revenge]] |
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| methods = [[Pogrom]],<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QeU8DAAAQBAJ|page=201|author=Paul Brass|title=Riots and Pogroms|isbn=9780814712825|date=October 1996|publisher=NYU Press |access-date=30 November 2018|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030023956/https://books.google.com/books?id=QeU8DAAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> [[mass murder]], [[mass rape]], [[arson]], [[plundering]],<ref name="Brass" /> [[acid throwing]],<ref name="tribune_phoolka" /> [[Death by burning|immolation]]<ref name="SAGE" /> |
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| date = 31 October 1984 − 3 November 1984 |
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| side1 = * [[File:Indian National Congress hand logo.svg|25px]] [[Indian National Congress]] (INC)<ref name="2009BBCremember"/><ref name="Nanavati"/><br> |
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* [[File:Bharatiya Janata Party logo.svg|25px]] [[Bharatiya Janta Party]] (BJP)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ashraf |first=Ajaz |date=2015-11-03 |title='RSS was silent during the 1984 riots. At places, it was implicated in the violence' |url=http://scroll.in/article/766550/rss-was-silent-during-the-1984-riots-at-places-it-was-implicated-in-the-violence |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Scroll.in}}</ref><ref name="Jaijee"/><ref name="Kalhan">{{Cite book |last=Kalhan |first=Anuradha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pHCpEAAAQBAJ&dq=rss+bjp+anti+sikh+riots&pg=PT265 |title=Tipping Point: A Short Political History of India |date=2023-04-03 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-88575-0}}</ref> |
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| fatalities = about 8,000-30,000. <ref> http://www.mha.nic.in/hindi/sites/upload_files/mhahindi/files/pdf/Nanavati-I_eng.pdf</ref> |
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* [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ashraf |first=Ajaz |date=2015-11-03 |title='RSS was silent during the 1984 riots. At places, it was implicated in the violence' |url=http://scroll.in/article/766550/rss-was-silent-during-the-1984-riots-at-places-it-was-implicated-in-the-violence |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Scroll.in}}</ref><ref name="Jaijee"/><ref name="Kalhan">{{Cite book |last=Kalhan |first=Anuradha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pHCpEAAAQBAJ&dq=rss+bjp+anti+sikh+riots&pg=PT265 |title=Tipping Point: A Short Political History of India |date=2023-04-03 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-88575-0}}</ref> |
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| side2 = * {{flagicon image|Nishan Sahib.svg}} [[Sikhs]] |
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| fatalities = 3,350 (Indian government figure)<ref name="TheWire.in"/><ref name="ndtv.com"/><br>8,000–17,000 Sikhs (other estimates){{Dubious|Figures|date=November 2023}}<ref name="SAGE"/><ref name='telegraph'/> |
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The '''1984 anti-Sikhs genocide''' or the '''1984 Sikh Massacre''' were a series of [[pogroms]]<ref name="toiprog"/><ref name="rediffprog"/><ref name="2009BBCremember"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbcactive.com/BroadCastLearning/asp/catalogue/productdetail.asp?productcode=22026|title=The Assassinations of Indira & Rajiv Gandhi|last=Nugus|first=Phillip|date=Spring 2007|publisher=BBC Active|accessdate=23 July 2010}}</ref> directed against [[Sikh]]s in [[India]], by anti-Sikh mobs, most notably by members of the Congress party, in response to the [[assassination of Indira Gandhi]] by her Sikh bodyguards. There were about 2800 deaths all over India, including 2100 in Delhi.<ref>[http://www.mha.nic.in/hindi/sites/upload_files/mhahindi/files/pdf/Nanavati-I_eng.pdf]</ref> <ref name="2009BBCremember"/> The [[Central Bureau of Investigation]], the main Indian investigating agency, is of the opinion that the acts of violence were organized with the support from the then Delhi police and some central government officials.<ref name="IBN23April">{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/1984-antisikh-riots-backed-by-govt-police-cbi/251375-37-64.html |title=1984 anti-Sikh riots backed by Govt, police: CBI |publisher=[[IBN Live]]|date=23 April 2012 |accessdate=27 April 2012}}</ref> [[Rajiv Gandhi]] was sworn in as Prime Minister after his mother's death and, when asked about the riots, said "when a big tree falls, the earth shakes".<ref name="HT18NOV">{{cite news |url= http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/India/India/Article1-352523.aspx |title= 1984 anti-Sikh riots 'wrong', says Rahul Gandhi |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=18 November 2008 |accessdate=5 May 2012 }}</ref> |
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The '''1984 anti-Sikh riots''',<!-- Reliable sources use the term "riots"; do not change, especially to "genocide", until a consensus for the change is reached after discussion on the talk page. --> also known as the '''1984 Sikh massacre''', was a series of organised [[pogrom]]s<ref name="toiprog"/><ref name="rediffprog"/><ref name="2009BBCremember">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8306420.stm|title=Indira Gandhi's death remembered|last=Bedi|first=Rahul|date=1 November 2009|publisher=BBC|quote=The 25th anniversary of Indira Gandhi's assassination revives stark memories of some 3,000 Sikhs killed brutally in the orderly pogrom that followed her killing|access-date=2 November 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091102113639/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8306420.stm| archive-date= 2 November 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> against [[Sikh]]s in [[India]] following the [[assassination of Indira Gandhi]] by her Sikh bodyguards.<ref>{{cite book|title=War and Religion: An Encyclopedia of Faith and Conflict [3 volumes]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KDlFDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA129|page=129|author1=Jeffrey M. Shaw|author2=Timothy J. Demy|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1610695176|date=27 March 2017|access-date=30 November 2018|archive-date=26 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426080618/https://books.google.com/books?id=KDlFDgAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Riots and Pogroms|page=203|author=Paul R. Brass|publisher=NYU Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QeU8DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA203|isbn=978-0814712825|date=October 1996|access-date=30 November 2018|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030023956/https://books.google.com/books?id=QeU8DAAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Ensaaf" /> Government estimates project that about 2,800 Sikhs were killed in [[Delhi]]<ref name="2009BBCremember"/><ref name="Nanavati"/> and 3,350 nationwide,<ref name="TheWire.in">{{Cite web | url=https://thewire.in/communalism/what-delhi-hc-order-on-1984-anti-sikh-pogrom-says-about-2002-gujarat-riots | title=What Delhi HC Order on 1984 Anti-Sikh Pogrom Says About 2002 Gujarat Riots | access-date=31 May 2019 | archive-date=31 May 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531060455/https://thewire.in/communalism/what-delhi-hc-order-on-1984-anti-sikh-pogrom-says-about-2002-gujarat-riots | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ndtv.com">{{Cite web | url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/why-gujarat-2002-finds-mention-in-1984-riots-court-order-on-sajjan-kumar-1963730 | title=Why Gujarat 2002 Finds Mention in 1984 Riots Court Order on Sajjan Kumar | access-date=31 May 2019 | archive-date=31 May 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531060555/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/why-gujarat-2002-finds-mention-in-1984-riots-court-order-on-sajjan-kumar-1963730 | url-status=live }}</ref> whilst other sources estimate the number of deaths at about 8,000–17,000.{{Dubious|Figures|date=November 2023}}<ref name="SAGE"/><ref name='telegraph'>{{cite news|title=Delhi to reopen inquiry in to massacre of Sikhs in 1984 riots|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/10607451/Delhi-to-reopen-inquiry-in-to-massacre-of-Sikhs-in-1984-riots.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/10607451/Delhi-to-reopen-inquiry-in-to-massacre-of-Sikhs-in-1984-riots.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|website=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|access-date=3 May 2016|date=30 January 2014|last1=Nelson|first1=Dean}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Jagdish Tytler's role in 1984 anti-Sikh riots to be re-investigated|url=http://www.ndtv.com/cheat-sheet/jagdish-tytlers-role-in-1984-anti-sikh-riots-to-be-re-investigated-518648|website=NDTV.com|access-date=3 May 2016|archive-date=18 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418033745/https://www.ndtv.com/cheat-sheet/jagdish-tytlers-role-in-1984-anti-sikh-riots-to-be-re-investigated-518648|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Akhilesh|last=Pillalamarri|title=India's Anti-Sikh Riots, 30 Years On|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/10/indias-anti-sikh-riots-30-years-on/|website=The Diplomat|access-date=3 May 2016|archive-date=10 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710033902/https://thediplomat.com/2014/10/indias-anti-sikh-riots-30-years-on/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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During the [[Indian Emergency]] imposed by Indira Gandhi in the 1970s, thousands of Sikhs campaigning for [[autonomous government]] were imprisoned.{{Citation needed|reason=your explanation here|date=April 2014}} The sporadic violence continued as a result of an armed [[Punjab insurgency|Sikh separatist]] group which was designated as a terrorist entity by the Indian government. In June 1984, during [[Operation Blue Star]], Indira Gandhi ordered the [[Indian Army]] to attack the [[Harmandir Sahib|Golden Temple]] and eliminate any insurgents, as it had been occupied by Sikh separatists who were stockpiling weapons. [[Operation Woodrose|Later operations]] by Indian paramilitary forces were initiated to clear the separatists from the countryside of [[Punjab (Indian state)|Punjab]] state.<ref name="Charny1999">{{cite book|last=Charny|first=Israel W.|title=Encyclopaedia of genocide|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=8Q30HcvCVuIC&pg=PA516|accessdate=21 February 2011|year=1999|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-87436-928-1|pages=516–517}}</ref> |
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The assassination of Indira Gandhi itself had taken place after she had ordered [[Operation Blue Star]], a military action to secure the [[Harmandir Sahib]] Sikh temple complex in [[Amritsar]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], in June 1984.<ref name=bbconthisday>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/witness/october/31/newsid_3961000/3961851.stm |title=1984: Assassination and revenge |access-date=23 January 2009 |publisher=BBC News |date=31 October 1984 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215211511/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/witness/october/31/newsid_3961000/3961851.stm |archive-date=15 February 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> The operation had resulted in a deadly battle with armed Sikh groups who were demanding [[Dharam Yudh Morcha|greater rights and autonomy]] for Punjab and the deaths of many pilgrims. Sikhs worldwide had criticized the army action and many saw it as an assault on their religion and identity.<ref name=david>{{cite book | last = Westerlund | first = David | title = Questioning The Secular State: The Worldwide Resurgence of Religion in Politics. | publisher = C. Hurst & Co | year = 1996 | page = 1276 | isbn =978-1-85065-241-0 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1984, the State, a Carnage and What the Trauma of a People Means to India Today |url=https://thewire.in/communalism/1984-sikh-pogrom-riot-community-division |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=thewire.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-01 |title=1984 anti-Sikh riots: Compensation still a dream but a sense of closure for victim families as SIT makes arrests |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/1984-anti-sikh-riots-compensation-still-a-dream-but-a-sense-of-closure-for-victim-families-as-sit-makes-arrests-101698780018962.html |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=The Hindustan Times}}</ref> |
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The violence in Delhi was triggered by the assassination of Indira Gandhi, India's prime minister, on 31 October 1984, by two of her Sikh [[bodyguard]]s in response to her actions authorising the military operation. The Indian government reported 2,700 deaths in the ensuing chaos. In the aftermath of the riots, the Indian government reported 20,000 had fled the city, however the [[People's Union for Civil Liberties]] reported "at least" 1,000 [[displaced person]]s.<ref name="Mukhoty 1984">{{Citation |title=Who are the Guilty ? | last =Mukhoty | first =Gobinda | last2 =Kothari | first2 =Rajni |url=http://www.sacw.net/aii/WhoaretheGuilty.html |year=1984 |publisher=[[People's Union for Civil Liberties]]| accessdate=4 November 2010 }}</ref> The most affected regions were the Sikh neighbourhoods in [[Delhi]]. Human rights organisations and newspapers across India believe the massacre was organised.<ref name="2009BBCremember"/><ref name="IBN23April" /><ref name="Swadesh Bahadur Singh 1996">Swadesh Bahadur Singh (editor of the Sher-i-Panjâb weekly): "Cabinet berth for a Sikh", Indian Express, 31 May 1996.</ref> The collusion of political officials in the massacres and the Judiciary's failure to penalise the killers alienated normal Sikhs and increased support for the [[Khalistan movement]].<ref name="Watch/Asia(US)1994">{{cite book|last1=Watch/Asia|first1=Human Rights|last2=(U.S.)|first2=Physicians for Human Rights|title=Dead silence: the legacy of human rights abuses in Punjab|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Dx7b8w6snbsC&pg=PA13|accessdate=29 July 2010|date=May 1994|publisher=Human Rights Watch|isbn=978-1-56432-130-5|page=10}}</ref> The [[Akal Takht]], the governing religious body of [[Sikhism]], considers the killings to be a [[genocide]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/1984-riots-were-Sikh-genocide-Akal-Takht/Article1-572372.aspx|title=1984 riots were 'Sikh genocide': Akal Takht – Hindustan Times|date=14 July 2010|work=Hindustan Times |accessdate=17 July 2010| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100717030351/http://www.hindustantimes.com/1984-riots-were-Sikh-genocide-Akal-Takht/Article1-572372.aspx| archivedate= 17 July 2010 | deadurl= no}}</ref> |
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In the aftermath of the pogroms, the government reported that 20,000 had fled the city; the [[People's Union for Civil Liberties]] reported "at least" 1,000 [[displaced person]]s.<ref name="Mukhoty 1984">{{Citation | title =Who are the Guilty ? | last1 =Mukhoty | first1 =Gobinda | last2 =Kothari | first2 =Rajni | url =http://www.sacw.net/aii/WhoaretheGuilty.html | year =1984 | publisher =[[People's Union for Civil Liberties]] | access-date =4 November 2010 | archive-date =5 September 2019 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20190905011343/http://www.sacw.net/aii/WhoaretheGuilty.html | url-status =live }}</ref> The most-affected regions were the Sikh neighborhoods of Delhi. [[Human rights]] organizations and newspapers across India believed that the massacre was organized.<ref name="2009BBCremember"/><ref name="IBN23April" /><ref name="Swadesh Bahadur Singh 1996">Swadesh Bahadur Singh (editor of the Sher-i-Panjâb weekly): "Cabinet berth for a Sikh", ''The Indian Express'', 31 May 1996.</ref> The collusion of political officials connected to the [[Indian National Congress]] in the violence and judicial failure to penalize the perpetrators alienated Sikhs and increased support for the [[Khalistan movement]].<ref name="Watch/Asia(US)1994">{{cite book|title=Dead silence: the legacy of human rights abuses in Punjab|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dx7b8w6snbsC&pg=PA13|date=May 1994|publisher=Human Rights Watch|isbn=978-1-56432-130-5|page=10|access-date=14 October 2016|archive-date=28 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428110036/https://books.google.com/books?id=Dx7b8w6snbsC&pg=PA13|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Akal Takht]], [[Sikhism]]'s governing body, considers the killings a [[genocide]].<ref name="HT2010">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/1984-riots-were-Sikh-genocide-Akal-Takht/Article1-572372.aspx|title=1984 riots were 'Sikh genocide': Akal Takht – Hindustan Times|date=14 July 2010|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=17 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717030351/http://www.hindustantimes.com/1984-riots-were-Sikh-genocide-Akal-Takht/Article1-572372.aspx|archive-date=17 July 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-05 |title=1984 anti-Sikh riots: Congress leader Jagdish Tytler gets anticipatory bail |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/1984-anti-sikh-riots-congress-leader-jagdish-tytler-charged-with-murder-granted-anticipatory-bail-sikhs-protest-11691228601720.html |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=livemint.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2023-09-20 |title=Ex-Congress MP Sajjan Kumar acquitted in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/1984-anti-sikh-riots-delhi-court-acquits-former-congress-mp-sajjan-kumar/article67326388.ece |access-date=2024-02-24 |work=The Hindu|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> |
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In 2011, [[Human Rights Watch]] reported the Government of India had "yet to prosecute those responsible for the mass killings".<ref>{{cite book|title=World Report 2011: India|url=http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/related_material/india_3.pdf|year=2011|publisher=Human Rights Watch|pages=1â5| accessdate=13 February 2011 | archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110130175646/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/related_material/india_3.pdf| archivedate= 30 January 2011| deadurl= no}}</ref> The [[WikiLeaks cables|2011 WikiLeaks cable leaks]] revealed that the United States was convinced about the complicity of [[Government of India|the Indian government]] ruled by the [[Indian National Congress]] in the riots, and termed it as "opportunism" and "hatred" of the Congress government against Sikhs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-06/india/29515961_1_anti-sikh-riots-gujarat-riots-nanavati-commission-report|title=US saw Cong hand in Sikh massacre, reveal Wiki leaks – Times of India|work=[[Indiatimes]]|accessdate=10 May 2011|date=6 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2005/08/05NEWDELHI6310.html|title=Cable Viewer|work=[[WikiLeaks]]|accessdate=10 May 2011| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110427114246/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2005/08/05NEWDELHI6310.html| archivedate= 27 April 2011 | deadurl= no}} {{dead link|date=June 2011}}</ref> The United States has refused to recognize the riots as genocide, but do acknowledge that "grave [[human rights violations]]" did take place.<ref>{{cite news |title=US refuses to declare 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India as genocide |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/us-refuses-to-declare-1984-antisikh-riots-in-india-as-genocide/382649-3.html |agency=Press Trust of India |publisher=CNN-IBN |location=Washington |date=2 April 2013 |accessdate=15 November 2013}}</ref> Also in 2011, a new set of mass graves were discovered in [[Haryana]], and [[Human Rights Watch]] reported that "Widespread anti-Sikh attacks in Haryana were part of broader revenge attacks" in India.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/04/25/india-bring-charges-newly-discovered-massacre-sikhs|title=India: Bring Charges for Newly Discovered Massacre of Sikhs|date=25 April 2011|publisher=Human Rights Watch|accessdate=2 August 2011| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110711124548/http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/04/25/india-bring-charges-newly-discovered-massacre-sikhs| archivedate= 11 July 2011 | deadurl= no}}</ref> |
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In 2011, [[Human Rights Watch]] reported that the Government of India had "yet to prosecute those responsible for the mass killings".<ref>{{cite book|title=World Report 2011: India|url=https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/related_material/india_3.pdf|year=2011|publisher=Human Rights Watch|pages=1–5| access-date=13 February 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110130175646/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/related_material/india_3.pdf| archive-date= 30 January 2011| url-status= live}}</ref> According to the [[United States diplomatic cables leak|2011 WikiLeaks cable leaks]], the [[United States]] was convinced of the Indian National Congress' complicity in the riots and called it "opportunism" and "hatred" by the [[Government of India|Congress government]], of Sikhs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-06/india/29515961_1_anti-sikh-riots-gujarat-riots-nanavati-commission-report|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125013015/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-06/india/29515961_1_anti-sikh-riots-gujarat-riots-nanavati-commission-report|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 November 2011|title=US saw Cong hand in Sikh massacre, reveal Wiki leaks|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=10 May 2011|date=6 May 2011}}</ref> Although the U.S. has not identified the riots as genocide, it acknowledged that "[[human rights violations|grave human rights violations]]" occurred.<ref>{{cite news |title=US refuses to declare 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India as genocide |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/us-refuses-to-declare-1984-antisikh-riots-in-india-as-genocide/382649-3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406012926/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/us-refuses-to-declare-1984-antisikh-riots-in-india-as-genocide/382649-3.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 April 2013 |agency=Press Trust of India |publisher=CNN-IBN |location=Washington |date=2 April 2013 |access-date=15 November 2013}}</ref> In 2011, the burned sites of multiple Sikh killings from 1984, were discovered in Hondh-Chillar and Pataudi areas of Haryana.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/04/25/india-bring-charges-newly-discovered-massacre-sikhs|title=India: Bring Charges for Newly Discovered Massacre of Sikhs|date=25 April 2011|publisher=Human Rights Watch|access-date=2 August 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110711124548/http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/04/25/india-bring-charges-newly-discovered-massacre-sikhs| archive-date= 11 July 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> The [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] believes that the violence was organised with support from the Delhi police and some central-government officials.<ref name="IBN23April">{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/1984-antisikh-riots-backed-by-govt-police-cbi/251375-37-64.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425011626/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/1984-antisikh-riots-backed-by-govt-police-cbi/251375-37-64.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 April 2012 |title=1984 anti-Sikh riots backed by Govt, police: CBI |publisher=[[IBN Live]]|date=23 April 2012 |access-date=27 April 2012}}</ref> |
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==Background== |
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{{See also|List of terrorist incidents in Punjab (India)|Punjab insurgency}} |
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In 1973 [[Akali Dal]] and other Sikh groups introduced the [[Anandpur Sahib Resolution]], which demanded special status for [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] and [[Sikh]]s. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, security in Punjab started deteriorating due to State level and religious politics, leading to the sacking of the Punjab government in 1983.<ref>{{cite web|title=Anandpur Sahib Resolution|url=http://www.shiromaniakalidal.org.in/2010/anandpur-sahib-resolution/|publisher=Shiromani Akali Dal|accessdate=30 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Badal refuses to speak on Anandpur Sahib resolution|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/badal-refuses-to-speak-on-anandpur-sahib-resolution/418240/|accessdate=30 August 2012|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=3 February 2009}}</ref> |
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After 34 years of delay, in December 2018, the first high-profile conviction for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots took place with the arrest of Congress leader [[Sajjan Kumar]], who was sentenced to life imprisonment by the [[Delhi High Court]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web| url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/1984-anti-sikh-riots-sajjan-kumar-convicted-hc-reverses-acquittal-hands-life-term-to-congress-leader/1416022/| title=1984 anti-Sikh riots: Sajjan Kumar convicted! HC reverses acquittal, hands life term to Congress leader| date=17 December 2018| access-date=17 December 2018| archive-date=17 December 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217084611/https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/1984-anti-sikh-riots-sajjan-kumar-convicted-hc-reverses-acquittal-hands-life-term-to-congress-leader/1416022/| url-status=live}}</ref> Very few convictions have taken place in the pending 1984 cases, with only one death penalty conviction for an accused, Yashpal in the case of murdering Sikhs in the [[Mahipalpur]] area of Delhi.<ref name="tribuneindia.com">{{Cite web | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/second-death-sentence-in-1984-anti-sikh-riots/686578.html/ | title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India : Latest news, India, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal, Uttarakhand, J&K, sports, cricket | access-date=24 November 2018 | archive-date=30 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130203617/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/second-death-sentence-in-1984-anti-sikh-riots/686578.html/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="indiatoday.in">{{cite news |title=Delhi court awards death penalty in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case: Chronology of events |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/delhi-court-awards-death-penalty-in-1984-anti-sikh-riots-case-chronology-of-events-1394041-2018-11-22 |work=India Today |date=22 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/66627391.cms | title=A first for SIT: Two convicted for 1984 killings | newspaper=The Times of India | access-date=17 December 2018 | archive-date=11 January 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111025416/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/66627391.cms | url-status=live }}</ref>{{Persecution of Sikhs}} |
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A section of Sikhs led by [[Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale]] turned to militancy in Punjab; some Sikh militant groups aimed to create an independent state called [[Khalistan]] through acts of violence directed at members of the Indian government, army or forces. Others demanded an autonomous state within India, based on the [[Anandpur Sahib Resolution]]. A large number of Sikhs condemned the actions of the militants.<ref name="JCSP1992">{{cite book | author1=J. C. Aggarwal | author2=S. P. Agrawal | title=Modern History of Punjab | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=d-CN0Q4g-dwC&pg=PA108 | accessdate=19 October 2012 | year=1992 | publisher=Concept Publishing Company | isbn=978-81-7022-431-0 | page = 117 }}</ref> |
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== Background == |
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By 1983, the situation in Punjab had become highly volatile. In October 1983, some Sikh militants stopped a bus and shot six Hindu bus passengers. On the same day, another group of extremists killed two officials on a train.<ref name="Robert2008">{{cite book | author1=Robert L. Hardgrave | author2=Stanley A. Kochanek | title=India: Government and Politics in a Developing Nation | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=pSyRgcSQhuIC&pg=PT187 | accessdate=20 October 2012 | year=2008 | publisher=Cengage Learning | isbn=978-0-495-00749-4 }}</ref>{{rp|174}} The Congress(I)-led Central Government dismissed Punjab state government of their own party, and imposed the [[President's Rule]] in the state. During the five months preceding Operation Blue Star, from 1 January 1984 to 3 June 1984, 298 people had been killed in various violent incidents across Punjab. In five days preceding the Operation, 48 people had been killed in the violence.<ref name="Robert2008"/>{{rp|175}} |
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{{See also|Dharam Yudh Morcha|Punjab insurgency}} |
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With increasing calls for action by various groups, [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Indira Gandhi]] ordered an operation by the [[India]]n army to flush out militants from the temple complex in early June 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/jun/03spec.htm |title=Operation BlueStar, 20 Years On |publisher=Rediff.com |date=6 June 1984 |accessdate=9 August 2009}}</ref> in order to establish control<ref>{{cite report |title=Allegations of UK involvement in the Indian operation at Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar 1984 |publisher=Cabinet Office |month=February |year=2014 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277292/Cabinet_Secretary_report_to_PM_on_allegations_of_UK_involveme....pdf }}</ref> over the [[Harmandir Sahib]] Complex in [[Amritsar]], [[Punjab]] and remove [[Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale]] and his armed followers from the complex buildings. Bhindranwale had earlier taken residence in Harmandir Sahib and made it his headquarters in April 1980. Bhindranwale was accused of amassing weapons in the [[gurudwara]] in order to start a major armed uprising.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1970s/Bluestar.html|title=Operation Bluestar, 5 June 1984|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080823050400/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1970s/Bluestar.html|archivedate=23 August 2008}}</ref> |
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In the 1972 Punjab state elections, Congress won and [[Akali Dal]] was defeated. In 1973, Akali Dal put forward the [[Anandpur Sahib Resolution]] to demand more autonomy to Punjab.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Singh|first=Khushwant|title=The Anandpur Sahib Resolution and Other Akali Demands|url=http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195673098.001.0001/acprof-9780195673098-chapter-20|website=Oxfordscholarship.com|publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195673098.001.0001|year=2004|isbn=9780195673098|access-date=23 July 2018|archive-date=6 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106222911/http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195673098.001.0001/acprof-9780195673098-chapter-20|url-status=live}}</ref> It demanded that power be generally devolved from the Central to state governments.<ref name="Jayanta484">{{cite book |last1=Ray |first1=Jayanta Kumar |title=Aspects of India's International Relations, 1700 to 2000: South Asia and the World |date=2007 |publisher=Pearson Education India |isbn=9788131708347 |page=484 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nyk6oA2nOlgC&q=khalistan |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=4 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204002351/https://books.google.com/books?id=Nyk6oA2nOlgC&q=khalistan |url-status=live }}</ref> The Congress government considered the resolution a secessionist document and rejected it.<ref name="Giorgio2008">{{cite book|author=Giorgio Shani | title=Sikh nationalism and identity in a global age |url=https://archive.org/details/sikhnationalismi00shan |url-access=limited | year=2008 | publisher=Routledge | isbn=978-0-415-42190-4 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/sikhnationalismi00shan/page/n67 51]–60 }}</ref> [[Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale]], a prominent Sikh leader of [[Damdami Taksal]], then joined the Akali Dal to launch the [[Dharam Yudh Morcha]] in 1982 to implement the Anandpur Sahib resolution. Bhindranwale had risen to prominence in the Sikh political circle with his policy of getting the [[Anandpur Resolution]] passed.<ref>Joshi, Chand, Bhindranwale: Myth and Reality (New Delhi: Vikas Publishing House, 1984), p. 129.</ref> Others demanded an autonomous state in India, based on the [[Anandpur Sahib Resolution]]. |
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After the operation, the Army placed total casualties at:<ref name="indianarmy.nic.in">http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/martyrs/home.aspx</ref> |
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* Civilians: 492 dead |
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* Military: 136 killed and 220 wounded. |
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Unofficial casualty figures were much higher.<ref name="youtube1">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQmYRr3IEUI Video] of interview with an Indian Army Officer who explains details of how the Sikhs fought, and the number of casualties.</ref> Some suggest that civilian casualties numbered 20,000.<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gunisha-kaur/remembering-the-massacre-of-sikhs-in-june-of-1984_b_3377276.html?utm_hp_ref=sikhism</ref> |
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[[Mark Tully]] and Satish Jacob mention of use of tanks by the army at Sultanwind area over the civilian Sikhs marching towards Amritsar.<ref>Tully and Jacbo, Amritsar: Mrs. Gandhi's Last Battle, page= 152</ref> The civilian casualties included Bhindranwale and his closest associate, the former Major General [[Shabeg Singh]]. |
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The operation caused widespread damage to structures in the temple complex with total destruction of the [[Akal Takht]] temple. It also led to protests by Sikhs all over India and the world. The calls for revenge for the desecration eventually led to the assassination of Mrs. Gandhi by two of her own bodyguards on 31 October 1984 and the subsequent anti-Sikh riots.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Sikh Rebellion and the Hindu Concept of Order |date=1989 |first=Cynthia Keppley |last=Mahmood |accessdate=29 May 2014 |doi=10.1525/as.1989.29.3.01p02605 |journal=Asian Survey |volume=29 |issue=3 |pages=326–340 |url=http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2644668?uid=3739256&uid=2&uid=4&sid=21104234779053 |registration=yes}}</ref> |
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As high-handed police methods normally used on common criminals were used on protesters during the [[Dharam Yudh Morcha]], creating state repression affecting a very large segment of Punjab's population, retaliatory violence came from a section of the Sikh population, widening the scope of the conflict by the use of violence of the state on its own people, creating fresh motives for Sikh youth to turn to insurgency.<ref name=karim>{{cite book |last1=Karim |first1=Afsir |title=Counter Terrorism, the Pakistan Factor |date=1991 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |isbn=978-8170621270 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QoqwQb38SQEC |access-date=17 March 2021 |archive-date=26 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326061440/https://books.google.com/books?id=QoqwQb38SQEC |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|32–33}} The concept of Khalistan was still vague even while the complex was fortified under the influence of former Sikh army officials alienated by government actions who now advised Bhindranwale, Major General Shabeg Singh and retired Major General and Brigadier Mohinder Singh, and at that point the concept was still not directly connected with the movement he headed.{{sfn|Karim|1991|pp=32-33}} In other parts of Punjab, a "state of chaos and repressive police methods" combined to create "a mood of overwhelming anger and resentment in the Sikh masses against the authorities," making Bhindranwale even more popular, and demands of independence gain currency, even amongst moderates and Sikh intellectuals.{{sfn|Karim|1991|pp=32-33}} |
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==Characteristics of violence== |
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{{See also|Hondh-Chillar Massacre}} |
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By 1983, the situation in Punjab was volatile. In October, Sikh militants stopped a bus and shot six Hindu passengers. On the same day, another group killed two officials on a train.<ref name="Robert2008">{{cite book | author1=Robert L. Hardgrave | author2=Stanley A. Kochanek | title=India: Government and Politics in a Developing Nation | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pSyRgcSQhuIC&pg=PT187 | year=2008 | publisher=Cengage Learning | isbn=978-0-495-00749-4 | access-date=14 October 2016 | archive-date=22 February 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222124110/https://books.google.com/books?id=pSyRgcSQhuIC&pg=PT187 | url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|174}} The Congress-led central government [[President's rule|dismissed]] the Punjab state government (led by their party), invoking the [[president's rule]]. During the five months before [[Operation Blue Star]], from 1 January to 3 June 1984, 298 people were killed in violent incidents across Punjab. In the five days preceding the operation, 48 people were killed by violence.<ref name="Robert2008"/>{{rp|175}} According to government estimates, the number of civilians, police, and militants killed was 27 in 1981, 22 in 1982, and 99 in 1983.<ref name="ArtRichardson2007">{{cite book|author1=Robert J. Art|author2=Louise Richardson|title=Democracy and Counterterrorism: Lessons from the Past|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bl5tSd-1wwsC&pg=PA444|year=2007|publisher=US Institute of Peace Press|isbn=978-1-929223-93-0|page=444|access-date=17 March 2021|archive-date=26 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326061442/https://books.google.com/books?id=Bl5tSd-1wwsC&pg=PA444|url-status=live}}</ref> By June 1984, the total number of deaths was 410 in violent incidents and riots while 1,180 people were injured.<ref name=ms_casualty_terror>{{cite book | first1 = Mark | last1 = Tully | first2 = Satish | last2 = Jacob | title = Amritsar; Mrs. Gandhi's Last Battle | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=bxhuAAAAMAAJ&q="deaths+in+violent" | year = 1985 | location = London | edition = e-book | page = 147, Ch. 11 | isbn = 9780224023283 | access-date = 26 July 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180726221324/https://books.google.com/books?id=bxhuAAAAMAAJ&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=%22deaths+in+violent%22 | archive-date = 26 July 2018 | url-status = live}}</ref> |
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After the [[assassination of Indira Gandhi]] on 31 October 1984, by two of her Sikh bodyguards, anti-Sikh riots erupted on 1 November 1984, and continued in some areas for days, killing more than 3,000 Sikhs in New Delhi and perhaps 8,000 or more in 40 cities throughout India.<ref name="2009BBCremember"/> Sultanpuri, Mangolpuri, Trilokpuri, and other Trans-Yamuna areas of Delhi were the worst affected. Mobs carried iron rods, knives, clubs, and combustible material, including kerosene and Petrol. The mobs swarmed into Sikh neighbourhoods, arbitrarily killing any Sikh men or women they could find. Their shops and houses were ransacked and burned. In other incidents, armed mobs stopped buses and trains, in and around Delhi, pulling out Sikh passengers to be lynched or doused with [[kerosene]] and burnt alive. Others were dragged out from their homes and hacked to death with bladed weapons. Sikh women were reportedly gang-raped.<ref>Singh, Jaspreet, "India's pogrom, 1984", ''[[International New York Times]]'', 31 October 2014, p. 7</ref> |
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On 1 June, Operation Blue Star was launched to remove him and the armed militants from the [[Golden Temple]] complex.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/jun/03spec.htm |title=Operation BlueStar, 20 Years On |work=Rediff.com |date=6 June 1984 |access-date=9 August 2009 |archive-date=2 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202184039/https://www.rediff.com/news/2004/jun/03spec.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> On 6 June Bhindranwale died in the operation. Casualty figures for the Army were 83 dead and 249 injured.<ref name = "tribune-army">{{cite web |url= http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070320/punjab1.htm |title= Army reveals startling facts on Bluestar |work= The Tribune |date= 30 May 1984 |access-date= 9 August 2009 |archive-date= 5 July 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090705183849/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070320/punjab1.htm |url-status= live }}</ref> According to the official estimate presented by the Indian government, 1592 were apprehended and there were 493 combined militant and civilian casualties.<ref name="WhitePaper1984">{{cite book |title=White Paper on the Punjab Agitation |date=1984 |publisher=[[Shiromani Akali Dal]] and [[Government of India]] |page=169 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wqSAngEACAAJ&q=493 |access-date=15 October 2020 |archive-date=14 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214140945/https://books.google.com/books?id=wqSAngEACAAJ&q=493 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Operation Woodrose|Later operations]] by Indian paramilitary forces were conducted to clear the separatists from the state of [[Punjab, India|Punjab]].<ref name="Charny1999">{{cite book|last=Charny|first=Israel W.|title=Encyclopaedia of genocide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8Q30HcvCVuIC&pg=PA516|year=1999|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-87436-928-1|pages=516–517|access-date=14 October 2016|archive-date=11 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511151023/https://books.google.com/books?id=8Q30HcvCVuIC&pg=PA516|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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{{quotation|Such wide-scale violence cannot take place without police help. Delhi Police, whose paramount duty was to upkeep law and order situation and protect innocent lives, gave full help to rioters who were in fact working under able guidance of sycophant leaders like [[Jagdish Tytler]] and [[H K L Bhagat]]. It is a known fact that many jails, sub-jails and lock-ups were opened for three days and prisoners, for the most part hardened criminals, were provided fullest provisions, means and instruction to "teach the Sikhs a lesson". But it will be wrong to say that Delhi Police did nothing, for it took full and keen action against Sikhs who tried to defend themselves. The Sikhs who opened fire to save their lives and property had to spend months dragging heels in courts after-wards.<br /><br />-Jagmohan Singh Khurmi, [[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]}} |
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The operation carried out in the temple caused outrage among the Sikhs and increased the support for Khalistan Movement.<ref name="Jayanta484"/> Four months after the operation, on 31 October 1984, Indira Gandhi was [[Assassination of Indira Gandhi|assassinated]] in vengeance by her two Sikh bodyguards, [[Satwant Singh]] and [[Beant Singh (assassin)|Beant Singh]].<ref name="dnaindia.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-operation-blue-star-india-s-first-tryst-with-militant-extremism-2270293|title=Operation Blue Star: India's first tryst with militant extremism & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=5 November 2016|website=Daily News and Analysis|access-date=29 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103012225/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-operation-blue-star-india-s-first-tryst-with-militant-extremism-2270293|archive-date=3 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> One of [[Beant Singh (assassin)|the assassins]] was fatally shot by Gandhi's other bodyguards while [[Satwant Singh|the other]] was convicted of Gandhi's murder and then executed. Public outcry over Gandhi's death led to the killings of Sikhs in the ensuing 1984 anti-Sikh riots.<ref name="Singh 2008 45">{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Pritam|title=Federalism, Nationalism and Development: India and the Punjab Economy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mQLDcjhNoJwC&q=Blue+Star&pg=PR4|access-date=29 July 2010|year=2008|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-45666-1|page=45|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308055821/https://books.google.com/books?id=mQLDcjhNoJwC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Sikh Rebellion and the Hindu Concept of Order |year=1989 |first=Cynthia Keppley |last=Mahmood |doi=10.2307/2644668 |journal=Asian Survey |volume=29 |issue=3 |pages=326–340 |jstor=2644668 }}</ref> |
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These riots are alternately referred to as pogroms<ref name="toiprog">[http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-12-31/india/27838902_1_communal-tension-communal-violence-gujarat-riots State pogroms glossed over]. [[The Times of India]]. 31 December 2005.</ref><ref name="rediffprog">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/may/09sikh.htm |title=Anti-Sikh riots a pogrom: Khushwant |publisher=Rediff.com |accessdate=23 September 2009}}</ref><ref name="2009BBCremember">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8306420.stm|title=Indira Gandhi's death remembered|last=Bedi|first=Rahul|date=1 November 2009|publisher=BBC|quote=The 25th anniversary of Indira Gandhi's assassination revives stark memories of some 3,000 Sikhs killed brutally in the orderly pogrom that followed her killing|accessdate=2 November 2009| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20091102113639/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8306420.stm| archivedate= 2 November 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |
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== Geo-Political Context == |
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Before British colonization, Punjab was a region dominated by Sikh Misls, which were later unified into the Sikh Empire by Maharajah Ranjit Singh. Post the Second Anglo-Sikh War in 1849, the Sikh Empire was dissolved, leading to its integration into the British province of Punjab. This period saw the emergence of religio-nationalist movements as a response to British administrative policies and socio-political changes. The concept of a Sikh homeland, Khalistan, emerged in the 1930s as the British Empire began to dissolve. This idea gained momentum in response to the Muslim League's demand for a Muslim state, with the Sikhs viewing it as an encroachment on historically Sikh territory. The Akali Dal, a Sikh political party, envisioned Khalistan as a theocratic state, comprising parts of what is today Punjab in both India and Pakistan. |
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Post-independence, the Akali Dal led the Punjabi Suba movement, advocating for the creation of a Punjabi-majority state within India. The movement's demands ranged from autonomous statehood within India to a fully sovereign state (Khalistan). Initially, the Indian government resisted these demands, wary of creating another state based on religious grounds. By the late 1970s and 1980s, the Khalistan movement began to militarize, marked by a shift in Sikh nationalism and the rise of armed militancy. This period, especially leading up to and following Operation Blue Star in 1984, saw increased Sikh militancy as a response to perceived injustices and political marginalization.<ref>{{Citation |title=Militancy, Antiterrorism and the Khalistan Movement, 1984–1997 |date=2021 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/sikh-nationalism/militancy-antiterrorism-and-the-khalistan-movement-19841997/5652BE642A98DE52B3A9CE1ECE9BED19 |work=Sikh Nationalism |pages=132–162 |editor-last=Shani |editor-first=Giorgio |access-date=2023-12-09 |series=New Approaches to Asian History |place=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |doi=10.1017/9781316479940.008 |isbn=978-1-107-13654-0 |s2cid=244442106 |editor2-last=Singh |editor2-first=Gurharpal}}</ref> |
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== {{anchor|Characteristics of violence}}Violence == |
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{{See also|Hondh-Chillar massacre}} |
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After the [[assassination of Indira Gandhi]] on 31 October 1984 by two of her Sikh bodyguards, anti-Sikh riots erupted the following day. They continued in some areas for several days, killing more than 3,000 Sikhs in New Delhi<ref>{{cite news|title=Delhi 1984: India's Congress party still struggling to escape the past|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26235314|access-date=14 May 2016|date=18 February 2014|last1=North|first1=Andrew|archive-date=26 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326110540/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26235314|url-status=live}}</ref> and an estimated 8,000 – 20,000 Sikhs in total were killed across 40 cities in India.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jaijee |first=Inderjit Singh |url=http://archive.org/details/PoliticsOfGenocide-Punjab1984-1998 |title=Politics Of Genocide – Punjab 1984-1998 |pages=114}}</ref><ref name="SAGE">{{cite book|title=The SAGE Encyclopedia of War: Social Science Perspectives|quote=around 17,000 Sikhs were burned alive or killed|first=Paul|last=Joseph|page=433|publisher = SAGE|isbn=978-1483359885|date=11 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="2009BBCremember"/> At least 50,000 Sikhs were displaced.<ref name="SAGE"/> Sultanpuri, [[Mangol Puri (Delhi Assembly constituency)|Mangolpuri]], [[Trilokpuri (Delhi Assembly constituency)|Trilokpuri]], and other [[East Delhi|Trans-Yamuna]] areas of Delhi were the worst affected. Perpetrators carried iron rods, knives, clubs, and combustible material (including kerosene and petrol). They entered Sikh neighbourhoods, killing Sikhs indiscriminately and destroying shops and houses. Armed mobs stopped buses and trains in and near Delhi, pulling off Sikh passengers for lynching; some were burnt alive. Others were dragged from their homes and hacked to death, and Sikh women were reportedly gang-raped and Sikhs also had acid thrown on them.<ref>Singh, Jaspreet, "India's pogrom, 1984", ''[[International New York Times]]'', 31 October 2014, p. 7</ref><ref name="tribune_phoolka">{{Cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20141102/pers.htm|title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Perspective|website=The Tribune|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814122013/https://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20141102/pers.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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{{blockquote|text=Such wide-scale violence cannot take place without police help. Delhi Police, whose paramount duty was to upkeep law and order situation and protect innocent lives, gave full help to rioters who were in fact working under able guidance of sycophant leaders like [[Jagdish Tytler]] and [[H K L Bhagat]]. It is a known fact that many jails, sub-jails and lock-ups were opened for three days and prisoners, for the most part hardened criminals, were provided fullest provisions, means and instruction to "teach the Sikhs a lesson". But it will be wrong to say that Delhi Police did nothing, for it took full and keen action against Sikhs who tried to defend themselves. The Sikhs who opened fire to save their lives and property had to spend months dragging heels in courts after-wards.|author=Jagmohan Singh Khurmi|source=''[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]'' {{full citation needed|date=August 2017}}}} |
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The grief, trauma, and survival of Sikh victims and witnesses is an important human perspective missing in much factual coverage of the riots. In interviews with Manoj Mitta and H.S. Phoolka for their book "When a Tree Shook Delhi," survivors recount harrowing tales of watching loved ones burned alive, raped, and dismembered. One Hindu woman describes her family sheltering over 70 Sikhs from murderous mobs who were targeting Sikh homes marked with an "S."Ensaaf's 2006 report "Twenty years of impunity" contains dozens of eyewitness statements accusing police and government officials of enabling and even participating in the violence. Personal stories help convey the true horrors endured by the Sikh community. |
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The riots have also been described as pogroms,<ref name="toiprog">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110811083708/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-12-31/india/27838902_1_communal-tension-communal-violence-gujarat-riots State pogroms glossed over]. ''[[The Times of India]]''. 31 December 2005.</ref><ref name="rediffprog">{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/may/09sikh.htm |title=Anti-Sikh riots a pogrom: Khushwant |work=Rediff.com |access-date=23 September 2009 |archive-date=22 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022162632/http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/may/09sikh.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |
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| title = Betrayed by the State: The Anti-Sikh Pogrom of 1984 |
| title = Betrayed by the State: The Anti-Sikh Pogrom of 1984 |
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| publisher = Penguin Books |
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| isbn = 978-0-14-306303-2 |
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| date = 30 December 2007 |
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}}</ref> or massacres.<ref>McLeod, W. H. ''Historical Dictionary of Sikhism''. 2005, page xiv</ref><ref>Yoo, David. ''New Spiritual Homes: Religion and Asian Americans''. 1999, page 129</ref> |
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}}</ref> massacres<ref>McLeod, W. H. ''Historical Dictionary of Sikhism''. 2005, page xiv</ref><ref>Yoo, David. ''New Spiritual Homes: Religion and Asian Americans''. 1999, page 129</ref> or genocide.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=It's Time India Accept Responsibility for its 1984 Sikh Genocide|url=http://time.com/3545867/india-1984-sikh-genocide-anniversary/|magazine=Time|access-date=3 May 2016|archive-date=10 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510164529/http://time.com/3545867/india-1984-sikh-genocide-anniversary/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=May 2023|reason=[[WP:EXTRAORDINARY]] claim}} |
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===Meetings and distribution of weapons=== |
=== {{anchor|Meetings and distribution of weapons}}Meetings and weapons distribution === |
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On 31 October, the crowd around the [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences]], began shouting for vengeance with slogans such as "Blood for blood!" and turned into an unruly mob. At 17:20, President [[Zail Singh]] arrived at the hospital and the mob outside stoned his car. The mob began assaulting Sikhs by stopping cars and buses to pull Sikhs out of them and burn their turbans.<ref name="Ensaaf">{{cite book|last1=Kaur|first1=Jaskaran|last2=Crossette|first2=Barbara|title=Twenty years of impunity: the November 1984 pogroms of Sikhs in India |page=27 |url=http://ensaaf-org.jklaw.net/publications/reports/20years/20years-2nd.pdf|edition=2nd|year=2006|publisher=Ensaaf|location=Portland, OR|isbn=978-0-9787073-0-9| accessdate=4 November 2010 }}</ref> The violence on 31 October was restricted to the area around the AIIMS and did result in many Sikh deaths.<ref name="Ensaaf"/> People in other parts of Delhi reported their neighbourhoods were peaceful. |
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On 31 October, a crowd around the [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences]] began shouting vengeance slogans such as "Blood for blood!" and became an unruly mob. At 17:20, President [[Zail Singh]] arrived at the hospital and the mob stoned his car. The mob began assaulting Sikhs, stopping cars and buses to pull Sikhs out and burn them.<ref name="Ensaaf">{{cite book|last1=Kaur|first1=Jaskaran|last2=Crossette|first2=Barbara|title=Twenty years of impunity: the November 1984 pogroms of Sikhs in India|page=27|url=http://ensaaf-org.jklaw.net/publications/reports/20years/20years-2nd.pdf|edition=2nd|year=2006|publisher=Ensaaf|location=Portland, OR|isbn=978-0-9787073-0-9|access-date=4 November 2010|archive-date=19 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119015130/http://ensaaf-org.jklaw.net/publications/reports/20years/20years-2nd.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The violence on 31 October, restricted to the area around the AIIMS, resulted in many Sikh deaths.<ref name="Ensaaf"/> Residents of other parts of Delhi reported that their neighbourhoods were peaceful. |
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During the night of 31 October and the morning of 1 November, Congress Party leaders met with local supporters to distribute money and weapons. Congress [[Member of Parliament (India)|MP]] [[Sajjan Kumar]] and [[Trade unions in India|trade-union]] leader [[Lalit Maken]] handed out {{INR|100|link=yes}} notes and bottles of liquor to the assailants.<ref name="Ensaaf"/> On the morning of 1 November, [[Sajjan Kumar]] was observed holding rallies in the Delhi neighbourhoods of Palam Colony (from 06:30 to 07:00), Kiran Gardens (08:00 to 08:30), and Sultanpuri (about 08:30 to 09:00).<ref name="Ensaaf"/> In Kiran Gardens at 8:00 am, Kumar was observed distributing iron rods from a parked truck to a group of 120 people and ordering them to "attack Sikhs, kill them, and loot and burn their properties".<ref name="Ensaaf"/> During the morning he led a mob along the [[Palam]] railway road to Mangolpuri, where the crowd chanted: "Kill the [[Sikhs|Sardar]]s" and "Indira Gandhi is our mother and these people have killed her".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kaur|first1=Jaskaran|last2=Crossette|first2=Barbara|title=Twenty years of impunity: the November 1984 pogroms of Sikhs in India|pages=27–28|url=http://ensaaf-org.jklaw.net/publications/reports/20years/20years-2nd.pdf|edition=2nd|year=2006|publisher=Ensaaf|location=Portland, OR|isbn=978-0-9787073-0-9|access-date=4 November 2010|archive-date=19 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119015130/http://ensaaf-org.jklaw.net/publications/reports/20years/20years-2nd.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In Sultanpuri, Moti Singh (a Sikh Congress Party member for 20 years) heard Kumar make the following speech: |
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{{blockquote|text=Whoever kills the sons of the snakes, I will reward them. Whoever kills Roshan Singh and Bagh Singh will get 5,000 rupees each and 1,000 rupees each for killing any other Sikhs. You can collect these prizes on 3 November from my personal assistant Jai Chand Jamadar.{{#tag:ref|On 2 November, Moti Singh witnessed two policemen, one a [[Station house officer|SHO]] and another a constable, both of whom who had attended Sajjan Kumar's meeting the previous day, shoot and kill Roshan Singh (his son) and kill his grandchildren when they ran to help their father.<ref name="ensaaf-org.jklaw.net">{{cite book|last1=Kaur|first1=Jaskaran|last2=Crossette|first2=Barbara|title=Twenty years of impunity: the November 1984 pogroms of Sikhs in India|page=28|url=http://ensaaf-org.jklaw.net/publications/reports/20years/20years-2nd.pdf|edition=2nd|year=2006|publisher=Ensaaf|location=Portland, OR|isbn=978-0-9787073-0-9|access-date=4 November 2010 <!-- DASHBot -->|archive-date=19 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119015130/http://ensaaf-org.jklaw.net/publications/reports/20years/20years-2nd.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> |group=note}}}} |
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The CBI recently told the court that during the riot [[Sajjan Kumar]] had said that "not a single Sikh should survive".<ref name="IBN23April" /><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17811666 | title = India Congress leader 'incited' 1984 anti-Sikh riots | publisher = BBC News | date = 23 April 2012 | accessdate =27 April 2012}}</ref> It also said that Delhi police kept its "eyes closed" during the riot as it was pre-planned.<ref name="IBN23April" /> |
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The [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] told the court that during the riot, Kumar said that "not a single Sikh should survive".<ref name="IBN23April" /><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17811666 | title = India Congress leader 'incited' 1984 anti-Sikh riots | publisher = BBC News | date = 23 April 2012 | access-date = 27 April 2012 | archive-date = 25 April 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120425161236/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17811666 | url-status = live }}</ref> The bureau accused [[Delhi Police]] of keeping its "eyes closed" during the riot, which was planned.<ref name="IBN23April" /> |
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In the neighbourhood of Shakarpur, Congress (I) leader Shyam Tyagi's home was used as a meeting place for an undefined number of people.<ref name="ensaaf-org.jklaw.net"/> [[H. K. L. Bhagat]], the [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Minister of Information and Broadcasting]] distributed money to Boop Tyagi, Shyam Tyagi's brother, and ordered him to “Keep these two thousand rupees for liquor and do as I have told you.... You need not worry at all. I will look after everything.”<ref name="ensaaf-org.jklaw.net"/> |
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In the Shakarpur neighbourhood, Congress Party leader Shyam Tyagi's home was used as a meeting place for an undetermined number of people.<ref name="ensaaf-org.jklaw.net"/> According to a local Hindu witness, [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Minister of Information and Broadcasting]] [[H. K. L. Bhagat]], gave money to Boop Tyagi (Tyagi's brother), saying: "Keep these two thousand rupees for liquor and do as I have told you ... You need not worry at all. I will look after everything."<ref name="ensaaf-org.jklaw.net"/> |
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During the night of 31 October, [[Balwan Khokhar]] (a local Congress Party leader who was implicated in the massacre) held a meeting at Pandit Harkesh's [[Public distribution system|ration shop]] in Palam.<ref name="ensaaf-org.jklaw.net"/> Congress Party supporter Shankar Lal Sharma held a meeting, where he assembled a mob which swore to kill Sikhs, in his shop at 08:30 on 1 November.<ref name="ensaaf-org.jklaw.net"/> |
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The chief weapon used by the mobs, [[kerosene]] was supplied by a group of [[Indian National Congress|Congress Party]] leaders who owned filling stations.<ref name="http">{{cite book|last1=Kaur|first1=Jaskaran|last2=Crossette|first2=Barbara|title=Twenty years of impunity: the November 1984 pogroms of Sikhs in India |page=29 |url=http://ensaaf-org.jklaw.net/publications/reports/20years/20years-2nd.pdf|edition=2nd|year=2006|publisher=Ensaaf|location=Portland, OR|isbn=978-0-9787073-0-9| accessdate=4 November 2010 }}</ref> In Sultanpuri, Brahmanand Gupta, the president of the A-4 block Congress Party distributed oil while Congress Party MP Sajjan Kumar "instructed the crowd to kill Sikhs, and to loot and burn their properties" as he had in other meetings throughout New Delhi.<ref name="http"/> In much the same way, meetings were held in places like Cooperative Colony in Bokaro where P.K. Tripathi, president of the local Congress Party and owner of a gas station in Nara More, provided kerosene to mobs.<ref name="http"/> Aseem Shrivastava, a Masters student at the [[Delhi School of Economics]] described the organised nature of the mobs in an affidavit submitted to the [[#Misra Commission|Misra Commission]]: |
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{{quote|text= The attack on Sikhs and their property in our locality appeared to be an extremely organized affair...<!--A man in the mob was carrying a piece of paper which had all the addresses of Sikhs in New Friends Colony. This list was being consulted to single out the houses to be attacked.-->There were also some young men on motorcycles, who were instructing the mobs and supplying them with kerosene oil from time to time. On more than a few occasions we saw auto-rickshaw arriving with several tins of kerosene oil and other inflammable material such as jute-sacks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carnage84.com/affidavits/mishra/promi/Aseem%20Shrivastava.htm|title=Misra Commission Affidavit of Aseem Shrivastava|accessdate=3 August 2010|location=New Delhi}}</ref>}} |
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Kerosene, the primary mob weapon, was supplied by a group of Congress Party leaders who owned filling stations.<ref name="http">{{cite book|last1=Kaur|first1=Jaskaran|last2=Crossette|first2=Barbara|title=Twenty years of impunity: the November 1984 pogroms of Sikhs in India|page=29|url=http://ensaaf-org.jklaw.net/publications/reports/20years/20years-2nd.pdf|edition=2nd|year=2006|publisher=Ensaaf|location=Portland, OR|isbn=978-0-9787073-0-9|access-date=4 November 2010|archive-date=19 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119015130/http://ensaaf-org.jklaw.net/publications/reports/20years/20years-2nd.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In Sultanpuri, Congress Party A-4 [[Block (district subdivision)#India|block]] president Brahmanand Gupta distributed oil while Sajjan Kumar "instructed the crowd to kill Sikhs, and to loot and burn their properties" (as he had done at other meetings throughout New Delhi).<ref name="http"/> Similar meetings were held at locations such as Cooperative Colony in Bokaro, where local Congress president and gas-station owner P. K. Tripathi distributed kerosene to mobs.<ref name="http"/> Aseem Shrivastava, a graduate student at the [[Delhi School of Economics]], described the mobs' organised nature in an affidavit submitted to the [[#Misra Commission|Misra Commission]]: |
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A senior official at the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] informed journalist Ivan Fera, that an arson investigation of several businesses burned in the riots had uncovered an unnamed combustible chemical "whose provision required large-scale coordination".<ref name="Fera">{{cite journal|last=Fera|first=Ivan|date=23 December 1985|title=The Enemy Within|journal=The Illustrated weekly of India|publisher=The Illustrated weekly of India}}</ref> Eyewitness reports confirmed the use of a combustible chemical besides [[kerosene]].<ref name="Fera"/> The [[Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee]] later identified 70 affidavits which cited the use of a highly flammable chemical in its written arguments before the [[#Misra Commission|Misra Commission]].<ref name="http"/> |
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{{blockquote|text= The attack on Sikhs and their property in our locality appeared to be an extremely organized affair ... <!-- A man in the mob was carrying a piece of paper which had all the addresses of Sikhs in New Friends Colony. This list was being consulted to single out the houses to be attacked. -->There were also some young men on motorcycles, who were instructing the mobs and supplying them with kerosene oil from time to time. On more than a few occasions we saw auto-rickshaw arriving with several tins of kerosene oil and other inflammable material, such as jute sacks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carnage84.com/affidavits/mishra/promi/Aseem%20Shrivastava.htm|title=Misra Commission Affidavit of Aseem Shrivastava|access-date=3 August 2010|location=New Delhi|archive-date=8 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708121820/http://www.carnage84.com/affidavits/mishra/promi/Aseem%20Shrivastava.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>}} |
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A senior official at the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] told journalist Ivan Fera that an arson investigation of several businesses burned in the riots had found an unnamed combustible chemical "whose provision required large-scale coordination".<ref name="Fera">{{cite journal|last=Fera|first=Ivan|date=23 December 1985|title=The Enemy Within|journal=The Illustrated Weekly of India}}</ref> Eyewitness reports confirmed the use of a combustible chemical in addition to kerosene.<ref name="Fera"/> The [[Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee]] later cited 70 affidavits noting the use of a highly-flammable chemical in its written reports to the Misra Commission.<ref name="http"/> |
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===Use of voter lists by the Congress Party=== |
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On 31 October, Congress party officials provided assailants with [[voter list]]s, school registration forms, and [[Public Distribution System|ration lists]].<ref name="Citizens for Democracy">{{cite book |last1=Rao |first1=Amiya |last2=Ghose |first2=Aurobindo |last3=Pancholi |first3=N. D. |location=India |title=Truth about Delhi violence: report to the nation |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=EBctAAAAIAAJ |accessdate=4 August 2010 |year=1985 |publisher=Citizens for Democracy |chapter=3}}</ref> The lists were used to find the location of Sikh homes and business, an otherwise impossible task because they were located in unmarked and diverse neighbourhoods. On the night of 31 October, the night before the massacres began, assailants used the lists to mark the houses of Sikhs with letter "S".<ref name="Citizens for Democracy"/> In addition, because most of the mobs were illiterate, Congress Party officials provided help in reading the lists and leading the mobs to Sikh homes and businesses in the other neighbourhoods.<ref name="http"/> By using the lists the mobs were able to pinpoint the locations of Sikhs they otherwise would have missed.<ref name="http"/> |
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=== {{anchor|Use of voter lists by the Congress Party}}Congress Party voter-list use === |
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Sikh men not in their homes were easily identified by their distinctive turban and beard while Sikh women were identified by their dress. In some cases, the mobs returned to locations where they knew Sikhs were hiding after consulting their lists. One man, Amar Singh, escaped the initial attack on his house by having a Hindu neighbour drag him into his neighbour's house and declare him dead. However, a group of 18 assailants later came looking for his body, and when his neighbour replied that others had already taken away the body an assailant showed him a list and replied, "Look, Amar Singh's name has not been struck off from the list so his dead body has not been taken away."<ref name="http"/> |
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On 31 October, Congress Party officials provided assailants with [[voter list]]s, school registration forms, and [[Public Distribution System|ration lists]].<ref name="Citizens for Democracy">{{cite book |last1=Rao |first1=Amiya |last2=Ghose |first2=Aurobindo |last3=Pancholi |first3=N. D. |location=India |title=Truth about Delhi violence: report to the nation |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EBctAAAAIAAJ |year=1985 |publisher=Citizens for Democracy |chapter=3 |access-date=14 October 2016 |archive-date=22 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222122249/https://books.google.com/books?id=EBctAAAAIAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> The lists were used to find Sikh homes and business, an otherwise-impossible task because they were in unmarked, diverse neighbourhoods. During the night of 31 October, before the massacres began, assailants used the lists to mark Sikh houses with an "S".<ref name="Citizens for Democracy"/> Because most mob members were illiterate, Congress Party officials provided help reading the lists and leading the mobs to Sikh homes and businesses in other neighbourhoods.<ref name="http"/> With the lists, the mobs could pinpoint the location of Sikhs they otherwise would have missed.<ref name="http"/> |
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==Timeline of events== |
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Sikh men not at home were easily identified by their turbans and beards, and Sikh women were identified by their dress. In some cases, the mobs returned to locations where they knew Sikhs were hiding because of the lists. Amar Singh escaped the initial attack on his house by having a Hindu neighbour drag him into the neighbour's house and announce that he was dead. A group of 18 assailants later came looking for his body; when his neighbour said that his body had been taken away, an assailant showed him a list and said: "Look, Amar Singh's name has not been struck off from the list, so his body has not been taken away."<ref name="http"/> |
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===First day (31 October)=== |
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== International Perspectives == |
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* 09:20: Indira Gandhi is shot by two of her Sikh security guards at her residence, No. 1 Safdarjung Road, and rushed to [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences]] (AIIMS). |
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Organizations like ENSAAF, a Sikh rights group, have documented the involvement of senior political leaders, notably from the Congress Party, in orchestrating the violence. These organizations have provided detailed accounts of how the violence was not spontaneous but organized, with state machinery used to facilitate the massacres, including using government buses to transport mobs to Sikh localities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-10-29 |title=India: No Justice for 1984 Anti-Sikh Bloodshed {{!}} Human Rights Watch |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/10/29/india-no-justice-1984-anti-sikh-bloodshed |access-date=2023-12-09}}</ref> Over the years, at least ten different commissions and committees were appointed by the Indian government to investigate the violence. These commissions faced criticism for a lack of transparency and effectiveness. The Misra Commission, for instance, was criticized for its in-camera proceedings and failure to allow victims' lawyers to attend or examine witnesses. Other commissions, such as the Kapoor-Mittal and Jain-Banerjee committees, recommended actions against police officers and politicians, but these recommendations were often not fully acted upon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramakrishnan |first=Shriya |title=Renewed calls for justice in India's 1984 riots |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2016/10/7/1984-anti-sikh-riots-calls-for-justice-in-india |access-date=2023-12-09 |publisher=Al Jazeera}}</ref> |
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* 10:50: Indira Gandhi dies.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/31/newsid_2464000/2464423.stm |title=Indian prime minister shot dead |publisher=BBC News |date= 31 October 1984|accessdate=23 September 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/witness/october/31/newsid_3961000/3961851.stm |title=Assassination and revenge |publisher=BBC News |date=31 October 1984 |accessdate=23 September 2009}}</ref> |
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* 11:00: [[All India Radio]] listeners learn that the two security guards who shot Indira Gandhi were Sikhs. |
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* 16:00: [[Rajiv Gandhi]] returns from West Bengal and reaches AIIMS. Stray incidents of attacks in and around that area. |
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* 17:30: The motorcade of President [[Zail Singh]], who is returning from a foreign visit, is stoned as it approaches AIIMS. |
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The response within India was marked by a call for justice from various quarters, including victims and activists. The Indian government's formation of Special Investigation Teams (SITs) and the extension of their mandates were seen as efforts to address the issue, though some viewed these measures as inadequate. There has been a persistent demand for accountability and justice for the victims and survivors of the riots.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lessons of the 1984 Sikh Massacre |url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/06/lessons-of-the-1984-sikh-massacre/ |access-date=2023-12-09 |website=thediplomat.com}}</ref> |
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; evening and night |
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* Organized and well equipped gangs of ruffians set out in different directions from AIIMS. |
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* The violence, including violence towards Sikhs and destruction of Sikh properties, spreads. |
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* Rajiv Gandhi is sworn in as the Prime Minister. |
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* Senior advocate and [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] leader [[Ram Jethmalani]], meets Home Minister [[P.V. Narasimha Rao]] and urges him to take immediate steps to protect Sikhs from further attacks. |
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* Delhi's Lt. Governor, [[P.G. Gavai]] and Police Commissioner, [[S.C. Tandon]], visits some of the affected areas. |
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== {{anchor|Timeline of events}}Timeline == |
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===Second day (1 November)=== |
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{{more citations needed section|date=October 2017}}<!-- most entries are not cited --> |
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* The first killing of a Sikh occurs in [[East Delhi]]. |
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* 09:00: Armed mobs take over the streets of Delhi and launch a massacre. |
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=== {{anchor|First day (31 October)}}31 October === |
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:Among the first targets were [[Gurdwara]]s, the holy temples of Sikhs |
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The worst affected areas are low income colonies like Trilokpuri, [[Shahdara]], Geeta Colony, Mongolpuri, Sultanpuri and Palam Colony. |
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The few areas where the local police stations take prompt measures against mobs see hardly any killings or major violence. |
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Farsh Bazar and [[Karol Bagh]] are two such examples. |
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* 09:20: Indira Gandhi is shot by two of her Sikh security guards at her residence, and is rushed to the [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences]] (AIIMS). |
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=== Third day (2 November)=== |
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* 10:50: Gandhi dies.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/31/newsid_2464000/2464423.stm |title=Indian prime minister shot dead |publisher=BBC News |date=31 October 1984 |access-date=23 September 2009 |archive-date=17 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117032809/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/31/newsid_2464000/2464423.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/witness/october/31/newsid_3961000/3961851.stm |title=Assassination and revenge |publisher=BBC News |date=31 October 1984 |access-date=23 September 2009 |archive-date=15 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215211511/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/witness/october/31/newsid_3961000/3961851.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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: Curfew is announced throughout Delhi, but is not enforced. The Army deployed throughout Delhi too but ineffective because the police did not co-operate with soldiers (who are not allowed to open fire without the consent of senior police officers and executive magistrates). |
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* 11:00: [[All India Radio]] reports that the guards who shot Gandhi were Sikhs. |
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Mobs continue to rampage. |
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* 16:00: [[Rajiv Gandhi]] returns from [[West Bengal]] to the AIIMS, where isolated attacks occur. |
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* 17:30: The motorcade of President [[Zail Singh]], returning from a foreign visit, is stoned as it approaches the AIIMS. A bodyguard's turban is ripped off.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Pav |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=llCbswEACAAJ |title=1984: India's Guilty Secret |date=2017 |publisher=Kashi House |isbn=978-1-911271-08-6 |pages=11–12}}</ref> |
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=== |
==== Evening and night ==== |
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:Violence continues. By late evening, the national Army and local police units work together to subdue the violence. After law enforcement intervention, violence is comparatively mild and sporadic.In Delhi the dead bodies of the victims of riots were taken to All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi and Civil Hospital Mortuary Tis hazari, Delhi.<ref>{{cite web |
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|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?262451 |
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|title=My job didn’t stop with Mrs Gandhi or Beant Singh. Bodies kept coming. |
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|publisher=Outlook India| accessdate=12 November 2011 }}</ref> |
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* Organized, equipped gangs spread out from the AIIMS. |
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==Aftermath== |
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* Attacks are planned in a meeting at the home of the [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Minister of Information and Broadcasting]]<ref name=":0" /> |
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{{Multiple image |
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* Violence towards Sikhs and destruction of Sikh property spreads. |
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| align = left |
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* The "Seek blood for blood" statement is aired on state-controlled airwaves.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Pav |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=llCbswEACAAJ |title=1984: India's Guilty Secret |date=2017 |publisher=Kashi House |isbn=978-1-911271-08-6 |pages=13}}</ref> |
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* Rajiv Gandhi is sworn in as Prime Minister. |
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| width = 250 |
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* Senior advocate and [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] leader [[Ram Jethmalani]] meets Home Minister [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]] and urges him to take immediate steps to protect Sikhs from further attacks. |
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| footer = Mobs looted goods from Sikh businesses during the riots |
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* At night, homes of Sikh are identified by surveyors. They use lists to find homes, marking homes of Sikhs with an S.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Pav |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=llCbswEACAAJ |title=1984: India's Guilty Secret |date=2017 |publisher=Kashi House |isbn=978-1-911271-08-6 |pages=18}}</ref> |
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| image1 = |
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* At around 9 p.m. an elderly Sikh man is the first to be killed.<ref name=":1" /> |
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| alt1 = |
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* Delhi lieutenant governor [[P. G. Gavai]] and police commissioner [[S. C. Tandon]] visit the affected areas. |
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| caption1 = |
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| image2 = |
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=== {{anchor|Second day (1 November)}}1 November === |
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| alt2 = |
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| caption2 = |
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* Early in the morning organised mobs are transported outside of Delhi on buses and begin attacking Sikh neighbourhoods. They are equipped with firearms, knives, iron rods, clubs, and [[kerosene]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Pav |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=llCbswEACAAJ |title=1984: India's Guilty Secret |date=2017 |publisher=Kashi House |isbn=978-1-911271-08-6 |pages=17}}</ref> |
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}} |
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* In the morning, [[Gurdwara]]s are attacked and burned.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Pav |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=llCbswEACAAJ |title=1984: India's Guilty Secret |date=2017 |publisher=Kashi House |isbn=978-1-911271-08-6 |pages=14}}</ref> |
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* At 7:00 a.m. mobs in [[Kanpur]] vandalise Sikh shops and loot Sikh homes. Local Congress leaders soon begin to lead mobs. Rapes and killings begin and continue till 4 November.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Pav |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=llCbswEACAAJ |title=1984: India's Guilty Secret |date=2017 |publisher=Kashi House |isbn=978-1-911271-08-6 |pages=29}}</ref> |
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* In the morning, mobs roam the [[Trilokpuri Assembly constituency|Trilokpuri colony]] in [[East Delhi]]. In two narrow alleys of the colony, hundreds of Sikhs were "butchered" throughout the day. The killings continued for multiple days. According to an eyewitness, Sikhs were able to fend off some of the mobs. Police forces then came and stripped Sikhs of their weapons, and blocked all exit points. This left the Sikhs defenceless and vulnerable to the mobs.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Pav |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=llCbswEACAAJ |title=1984: India's Guilty Secret |date=2017 |publisher=Kashi House |isbn=978-1-911271-08-6 |pages=23–24}}</ref> |
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* In Trilokpuri colony: A father and his two sons were beaten and burned alive by a gang. The gang entered their home where a woman and her youngest son were found. She was stripped and raped by boys in front of her son. The woman tried to flee with her son after the rape, but the son was caught by a mob that beat him and burned him alive. The woman was also beaten and suffered multiple knife wounds and a broken arm.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Pav |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=llCbswEACAAJ |title=1984: India's Guilty Secret |date=2017 |publisher=Kashi House |isbn=978-1-911271-08-6 |pages=36–37}}</ref> |
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* In Trilokpuri colony: Women were grouped together and were dragged one by one to a [[mosque]] where they would be gang raped. According to one girl, she was raped by 15 men.<ref name=":3" /> |
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* In Trilokpuri colony: 30 women are abducted and held in Chilla near Delhi. Some of the women were released on 3 November while the fate of the remaining women is unknown.<ref name=":3" /> |
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* 09:00: Armed mobs take over the streets in Delhi. [[Gurdwara]]s are among the first targets. The worst-affected areas are low-income neighbourhoods such as Inderlok (erstwhile [[Trilokpuri Assembly constituency|Trilokpuri]]), [[Shahdara district|Shahdara]], [[Geeta Colony Assembly constituency|Geeta Colony]], Mongolpuri, Sultanpuri and [[Palam]] Colony. Areas with prompt police intervention, such as Farsh Bazar and [[Karol Bagh]], see few killings and little major violence. |
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* According to an eyewitness in [[Bihar]], in the morning large crowds armed with weapons raised anti-Sikh chants and attacked the homes of Sikh. They broke into the eyewitnesses home and dragged out her parents and three brothers. They were each "butchered" as she watched helplessly.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Pav |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=llCbswEACAAJ |title=1984: India's Guilty Secret |date=2017 |publisher=Kashi House |isbn=978-1-911271-08-6 |pages=30}}</ref> |
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* At 6 PM a mob under the guidance of Congress leader [[Lalit Maken]] set fire to [[Pataudi]]'s [[Gurdwara]] which created a panic in the city. As the armed mob rampaged through the town and set fire to Sikh homes in the city, one group of Sikhs escaped to the outskirts while another found shelter in a local [[Ashram]].<ref name="tehelka1984">{{cite news|url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main49.asp?filename=Ne120311EXCLUSIVE.asp|title=1984. Genocide in Pataudi. Not a whisper escaped|date=12 March 2011|work=[[Tehelka]]|publisher=Tehelka|access-date=9 March 2011|archive-date=10 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310061926/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main49.asp?filename=Ne120311EXCLUSIVE.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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=== {{anchor|Third day (2 November)}}2 November === |
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* Trains arrive in Delhi with dead bodies of Sikhs.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Pav |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=llCbswEACAAJ |title=1984: India's Guilty Secret |date=2017 |publisher=Kashi House |isbn=978-1-911271-08-6 |pages=15}}</ref> |
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* 17 Sikhs were burned alive in [[Pataudi]].<ref name=":2" /> |
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* In Pataudi, two teenage Sikh women were dragged in the middle of a street where they were stripped naked. They were beaten and urinated on. They were finally burned alive.<ref name=":2" /> |
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* 500 armed men were allegedly transported in trucks to [[Hondh-Chillar]]. They yelled anti Sikh slogans before burning Sikhs alive in their homes and gang raping women.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Pav |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=llCbswEACAAJ |title=1984: India's Guilty Secret |date=2017 |publisher=Kashi House |isbn=978-1-911271-08-6 |pages=31}}</ref> |
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* A curfew is announced in Delhi, but is not enforced. Although the army is deployed throughout the city, the police did not co-operate with soldiers (who are forbidden to fire without the consent of senior police officers and executive magistrates). |
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=== {{anchor|Fourth day (3 November)}}3 November === |
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* By late evening, army and local police units work together to subdue the violence. After law-enforcement intervention, violence is comparatively mild and sporadic. In Delhi, the bodies of riot victims are brought to the [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences]] and the Civil Hospital mortuary in Delhi.<ref>{{cite web |
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| url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?262451 |
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| title=My job didn't stop with Mrs Gandhi or Beant Singh. Bodies kept coming. |
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| publisher=Outlook India |
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| access-date=12 November 2011 |
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| archive-date=13 August 2012 |
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| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813221553/http://outlookindia.com/article.aspx?262451 |
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}}</ref> |
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== Aftermath == |
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The Delhi High Court, |
The Delhi High Court, delivering its verdict on a riot-related case in 2009, said:<ref>[https://archive.today/20130122142454/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/1984-riots-three-held-guilty-of-rioting/505774/ 1984 riots: three held guilty of rioting]. ''[[The Indian Express]]''. 23 August 2009.</ref> |
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{{ |
{{blockquote |1=Though we boast of being the world's largest democracy and the Delhi being its national capital, the sheer mention of the incidents of 1984 anti-Sikh riots in general and the role played by Delhi Police and state machinery in particular makes our heads hang in shame in the eyes of the world polity.}} |
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The government allegedly destroyed evidence and shielded the guilty. ''[[Asian Age]]'', an Indian daily newspaper, ran a front-page story calling the government actions "the mother of all cover-ups".<ref name=coverup-1>{{cite web|last=Mustafa |first=Seema |title=1984 Sikh Massacres: Mother of All Cover-ups |url=http://www.sikhtimes.com/news_080905b.html |work=The Sikh Times |publisher=The Asian Age |access-date=29 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307223021/http://www.sikhtimes.com/news_080905b.html |archive-date=7 March 2013 |url-status=live |date=9 August 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Justice delayed, justice denied |date=11 August 2005 |first=Renu |last=Agal |access-date=29 May 2014 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4141524.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426040021/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4141524.stm |archive-date=26 April 2011 |url-status=live |publisher=BBC News |location=Delhi }}</ref> |
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From 31 October 1984 to 10 November 1984 |
From 31 October 1984 to 10 November 1984 the [[People's Union for Democratic Rights]] and the [[People's Union for Civil Liberties]] conducted an inquiry into the riots, interviewing victims, police officers, neighbours of the victims, army personnel and political leaders. In their joint report, "[[Who Are The Guilty]]", the groups concluded: |
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<blockquote> The attacks on members of the Sikh Community in Delhi and its suburbs during the period, far from being a spontaneous expression of "madness" and of popular "grief and anger" at Mrs. Gandhi's assassination as made out to be by the authorities, were the outcome of a well organised plan marked by acts of both deliberate commissions and omissions by important politicians of the Congress (I) at the top and by authorities in the administration.<ref name="Mukhoty 1984"/> </blockquote> |
<blockquote> The attacks on members of the Sikh Community in Delhi and its suburbs during the period, far from being a spontaneous expression of "madness" and of popular "grief and anger" at Mrs. Gandhi's assassination as made out to be by the authorities, were the outcome of a well organised plan marked by acts of both deliberate commissions and omissions by important politicians of the Congress (I) at the top and by authorities in the administration.<ref name="Mukhoty 1984"/> </blockquote> |
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According to eyewitness accounts obtained by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine, [[Department of Police, Delhi|Delhi police]] looked on as "rioters murdered and raped, having gotten access to voter records that allowed them to mark Sikh homes with large Xs, and large mobs being bused in to large Sikh settlements".<ref name="Mridu Khullar">{{cite news |title=India's 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: Waiting for Justice |author= Mridu Khullar |newspaper=Time |date=28 October 2009 |url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1931635-2,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091101095153/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1931635-2,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 November 2009 | access-date=4 November 2010 }}</ref> ''Time'' reported that the riots led to only minor arrests, with no major politicians or police officers convicted. The magazine quoted Ensaaf,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ensaaf.org/about/|title=Ensaaf › About Us|publisher=ensaaf.org|access-date=8 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117181133/http://www.ensaaf.org/about/|archive-date=17 November 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> an Indian human-rights organisation, as saying that the government attempted to destroy evidence of its involvement by refusing to record [[First Information Report]]s.<ref name="Mridu Khullar"/> |
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A |
A 1991 Human Rights Watch report on violence between [[Khalistan movement|Sikh separatists]] and the [[Government of India]] traced part of the problem to government response to the violence: |
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<blockquote>Despite numerous credible eye-witness accounts that identified many of those involved in the violence, |
<blockquote>Despite numerous credible eye-witness accounts that identified many of those involved in the violence, including police and politicians, in the months following the killings, the government sought no prosecutions or indictments of any persons, including officials, accused in any case of murder, rape or arson.<ref name="Patricia Gossman 1991">{{Citation |title=Punjab in Crisis |url=https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/INDIA918.PDF |author=Patricia Gossman |year=1991 |publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]] |access-date=4 November 2010 <!-- DASHBot --> |archive-date=16 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216204708/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/INDIA918.PDF |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote> |
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The violence was allegedly led (and often perpetrated) by Indian National Congress activists and sympathizers. The Congress-led government was widely criticised for doing little at the time and possibly conspiring in the riots, since voter lists were used to identify Sikh families.<ref name="Swadesh Bahadur Singh 1996"/> [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) and [[Bharatiya Janta Party]] (BJP) members also allegedly participated in the violence.<ref name="Jaijee">{{cite book | author=Inderjit Singh Jaijee, Dona Suri | title=The Legacy of Militancy in Punjab: Long Road to 'Normalcy' | publisher=[[SAGE Publishing]] | year=2019 | isbn=978-93-5328-714-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8va0DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT109 |page=109}}</ref> |
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The riots catalyzed lasting political and social changes among India's Sikhs. With the government failing to protect them, many Sikhs felt betrayed and marginalized, providing momentum to the Khalistan separatist movement. |
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A few days following the massacre, many surviving Sikh youth in Delhi had retaliated in either joining or creating Sikh militant groups. This lead to series of more violence in the Punjab, where several assassinations of senior [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] party members took place. The [[Khalistan Commando Force]] and [[Khalistan Liberation Force]] took responsibility of the targeted hits in retaliation. An underground network had also been established between the victims of the genocide and Sikh extremists. |
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=== Revenge killings === |
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On 31 July 1985, [[Harjinder Singh Jinda]], [[Sukhdev Singh Sukha]] and Ranjit Singh Gill of [[Khalistan Commando Force]] assassinated Lalit Maken (Member – [[Parliament of India]] and a leader of Congress (I)) to take revenge for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. In a 31-page booklet titled ''[[Who Are The Guilty]]'', the [[People's Union for Civil Liberties]] (PUCL) listed 227 people who led the mobs, Lalit Maken's name was third on the list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fline/fl2007/stories/20030411002004500.htm |title=A life sentence |publisher=Hinduonnet.com |accessdate=23 September 2009}}</ref> |
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{{Main|Assassination of Arjun Dass}} |
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On 31 July 1985, [[Harjinder Singh Jinda]], [[Sukhdev Singh Sukha]] and Ranjit Singh Gill of the [[Khalistan Commando Force]] assassinated Congress Party leader and [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]] [[Lalit Maken]] in retaliation for the riots. The 31-page report, "Who Are The Guilty?", listed 227 people who led the mobs; Maken was third on the list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fline/fl2007/stories/20030411002004500.htm |title=A life sentence |publisher=Hinduonnet.com |access-date=23 September 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429183514/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fline/fl2007/stories/20030411002004500.htm |archive-date=29 April 2011 }}</ref> |
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Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha |
On 5 September 1985, Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha assassinated [[Congress (I)]] leader and member of [[Delhi Metropolitan Council]] Arjan Dass because of his involvement in the riots. Dass appeared in affidavits submitted by Sikh victims to the [[Nanavati Commission]], headed by retired [[Supreme Court of India]] judge [[G. T. Nanavati]].<ref>[http://www.mha.nic.in/Nanavati-I.pdf mha.nic.in] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411105427/http://www.mha.nic.in/Nanavati-I.pdf |date=11 April 2008 }}</ref> |
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On 8 April 1988, [[Vilayati Ram Katyal|Vilayati Ram Kaytal]] a Congress [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] of [[Uttar Pradesh]] was assassinated over his involvement in the riots. He allegedly led mobs.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QUMdAQAAMAAJ |title=Times of India Illustrated Weekly |date=1988 |pages=30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-06 |title=1984 Sikh Pogrom: The First Day of November |url=https://openthemagazine.com/features/dispatch/1984-sikh-pogrom-the-first-day-of-november/ |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=Open The Magazine}}</ref> |
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On 19 December 1991, Sikh militants killed 14 people. Among the 14 was Lala Ram. Ram was a Hindu militant who had been accused of inciting violence in the riots.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0z4xAAAAIBAJ&dq=1984+anti+sikh+riots+killed&pg=PA6&article_id=6665,6800584 |title=Ocala Star-Banner |publisher=Ocala Star-Banner}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Kaur |first=Jitinder |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GofaAAAAMAAJ |title=Terrorism in the Tarai: A Socio-political Study |date=2000 |publisher=Ajanta Books International |isbn=978-81-202-0541-3 |pages=62}}</ref> |
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In 2009 [[Khalistan Liberation Force]] members killed Dr. Budh Parkash Kashyap over his involvement in the riots.<ref>{{cite web |title=Punjab News | Breaking News | Latest Online News |url=http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/21401/38/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815024231/http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/21401/38 |archive-date=15 August 2010 |access-date=2012-11-07 |publisher=Punjabnewsline.com}}</ref> |
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=== Convictions === |
=== Convictions === |
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In 1995, [[Chief Minister of Delhi|Delhi Chief Minister]] [[Madan Lal Khurana]] said 46 persons have been prosecuted for their role in the riots.<ref>{{cite book|title=Daily Report: Near East & South Asia, Volumes 95-250|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aiQNiAhipC4C|year=1995|page=56}}</ref> |
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In Delhi, 442 of the rioters were convicted by the courts. 49 of these were sentenced to the [[life imprisonment]], and another three to imprisonment of more than 10 years. 6 Delhi Police officers were punished for lapses during the riots.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/442-convicted-in-various-anti-Sikh-riots-cases-Delhi-Police/Article1-875466.aspx | title = 442 convicted in various anti-Sikh riots cases: Delhi Police | date = 20 June 2012 | accessdate = 29 August 2012 | newspaper = Hindustan Times }}</ref> In April 2013, the [[Supreme Court of India]] dismissed the appeal of three convicts who had challenged the High Court's decision to award them life sentence.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.deccanherald.com/content/325083/apex-court-upholds-life-term.html | title = Apex court upholds life term for 3 in anti-Sikh riots | date = 9 April 2013 | accessdate = 9 April 2013 | newspaper = Deccan Herald }}</ref> |
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In April 2013, the Karkardooma district court in Delhi convicted five people – Balwan Khokkar (former councillor), Mahender Yadav (former [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]]), Kishan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal – for inciting a mob against |
In Delhi, 442 rioters were convicted as of 2012. Forty-nine were sentenced to the [[life imprisonment]], and another three to more than 10 years' imprisonment. Six Delhi police officers were sanctioned for negligence during the riots.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/442-convicted-in-various-anti-Sikh-riots-cases-Delhi-Police/Article1-875466.aspx | title = 442 convicted in various anti-Sikh riots cases: Delhi Police | date = 20 June 2012 | access-date = 29 August 2012 | newspaper = The Hindustan Times | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120908154651/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/442-convicted-in-various-anti-Sikh-riots-cases-Delhi-Police/Article1-875466.aspx | archive-date = 8 September 2012 | url-status = dead}}</ref> In April 2013, the Supreme Court of India dismissed the appeal of three people who had challenged their life sentences.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.deccanherald.com/content/325083/apex-court-upholds-life-term.html | title = Apex court upholds life term for 3 in anti-Sikh riots | date = 9 April 2013 | access-date = 9 April 2013 | newspaper = Deccan Herald | archive-date = 29 April 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130429235557/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/325083/apex-court-upholds-life-term.html | url-status = live }}</ref> That month, the Karkardooma district court in Delhi convicted five people – Balwan Khokkar (former councillor), Mahender Yadav (former [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]]), Kishan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal – for inciting a mob against Sikhs in [[Delhi Cantonment]]. The court acquitted Congress leader [[Sajjan Kumar]], which led to protests.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/court-to-pronounce-verdict-on-sajjan-kumar-in-1984-anti-sikh-riots-case/1/268419.html | title = Sajjan Kumar acquitted in anti-Sikh riots case | date = 30 April 2013 | access-date = 30 April 2013 | newspaper = The Hindu | archive-date = 30 April 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130430085040/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/court-to-pronounce-verdict-on-sajjan-kumar-in-1984-anti-sikh-riots-case/1/268419.html | url-status = live }}</ref> |
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In the first ever case of [[Capital punishment in India|capital punishment]] in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case death sentence was awarded to Yashpal Singh convicted for murdering two persons, 24-year-old Hardev Singh and 26-year-old Avtar Singh, in Mahipal Pur area of Delhi on 1 November 1984. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey pronounced the Judgement on 20 November 34 years after the crime was committed. The second convict in the case, Naresh Sehrawat was awarded life imprisonment. The Court considered the failing health of 68-year-old Sehrawat while giving him a lighter sentence. The conviction followed a complaint by the deceased Hardev Singh's elder brother Santokh Singh. Though an FIR was filed on the same day of the crime nothing came of the case as a Congress leader, JP Singh, who led the mob was acquitted in the case. A fresh FIR was filed on 29 April 1993, following recommendations of the Ranganath Commission of inquiry. The police closed the matter as untraced despite witness testimonies of the deceased's four brothers who were witness to the crime. The case was reopened by the Special Investigation Team constituted by the BJP-led NDA government on 12 February 2015. The SIT completed the investigation in record time.<ref name="tribuneindia.com"/><ref name="indiatoday.in"/> The first conviction resulting from the formation of the SIT came on 15 November 2018, by the conviction of Naresh Sehrawat and Yashpal Singh.<ref name="auto1"/> |
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==Investigations== |
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In December 2018, in one of the first high-profile convictions, former Congress leader [[Sajjan Kumar]] was sentenced to life imprisonment by the [[Delhi High Court]] based on the re-opened investigation by the Special Investigation Team constituted by the [[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]] government in 2015.<ref name="auto"/> On 20 September 2023, Kumar was acquitted over one case of murder in the riot.<ref name="The Hindu 2023 q997">{{cite web | author=The Hindu Bureau | title=Ex-Congress MP Sajjan Kumar acquitted in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case | website=The Hindu | date=2023-09-20 | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/1984-anti-sikh-riots-delhi-court-acquits-former-congress-mp-sajjan-kumar/article67326388.ece | access-date=2023-11-03}}</ref> |
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Numerous commissions have been set up to investigate the riots. |
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The most recent commission on the pogroms, headed by Justice G.T. Nanavati, submitted its 185-page report to the Home Minister, [[Shivraj Patil]] on 9 February 2005 and the report was tabled in Parliament on 8 August 2005. |
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== Investigations == |
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Ten commissions and committees have so far enquired into the riots. The commissions below are listed in the order they were formed. Many of the primary accused were acquitted or never charge-sheeted. |
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Ten commissions or committees have been formed to investigate the riots. The most recent, headed by Justice G. T. Nanavati, submitted its 185-page report to [[Home Minister of India|Home Minister]] [[Shivraj Patil]] on 9 February 2005; the report was tabled in Parliament on 8 August of that year. The commissions below are listed in chronological order. Many of the accused were acquitted or never formally charged. |
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===Marwah Commission=== |
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=== Marwah Commission === |
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This commission was appointed in November 1984. |
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[[Ved Marwah]], Additional Commissioner of Police, was assigned the job of enquiring into the role of the police during the carnage of November 1984. |
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Many of the accused officers of Delhi Police went to [[Delhi High Court]]. |
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As Ved Marwah completed his inquiry towards the middle of 1985, he was abruptly directed by the [[Minister for Home Affairs (India)|Home Ministry]] not to proceed further.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071103/delhi.htm#1 |title=Police didn’t help victims |work=The Tribune |location=India |accessdate=23 September 2009}}</ref> Complete records of the Marwah Commission were taken over by the government and were later transferred to the Misra Commission. However, the most important part of the record, namely the handwritten notes of Mr Marwah, which contained important information, were not transferred to the Misra Commission. |
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The Marwah Commission was appointed in November 1984. [[Ved Marwah]], [[Additional Commissioner of Police]], was tasked with enquiring into the role of the police during the riots. Many of the accused Delhi Police officers were tried in the [[Delhi High Court]]. As Marwah was completing his inquiry in mid-1985, he was abruptly directed by the [[Minister for Home Affairs (India)|Home Ministry]] not to proceed further.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071103/delhi.htm#1 |title=Police didn't help victims |work=The Tribune |location=India |access-date=23 September 2009 |archive-date=23 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923203446/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071103/delhi.htm#1 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Marwah Commission records were appropriated by the government, and most (except for Marwah's handwritten notes) were later given to the Misra Commission. |
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===Misra Commission=== |
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Misra commission was appointed in May 1985. Justice Rangnath Misra, was a sitting judge of the [[Supreme Court of India]]. |
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Justice Misra submitted his report in August 1986 and the report was made public six months thereafter in February 1987. In his report, Justice Misra stated that it was not part of his terms of reference to identify any person and recommended the formation of three committees. |
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=== Misra Commission === |
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The commission and its report was criticised by [[People's Union for Civil Liberties]] and [[Human Rights Watch]] as biased. A [[Human Rights Watch]] report recording the Misra Commission noted: |
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The Misra Commission was appointed in May 1985; Justice [[Ranganath Misra|Rangnath Misra]] was a judge on the Supreme Court of India. Misra submitted his report in August 1986, and the report was made public in February 1987. In his report, he said that it was not part of his [[terms of reference]] to identify any individual and recommended the formation of three committees. |
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<blockquote>It recommended no criminal prosecution of any individual, and it cleared all high-level officials of directing the pogroms. In its findings, the commission did acknowledge that many of the victims testifying before it had received threats from local police. While the commission noted that there had been "widespread lapses" on the part of the police, it concluded that "the allegations before the commission about the conduct of the police are more of indifference and negligence during the riots than of any wrongful overt act."<ref name="Patricia Gossman 1991"/></blockquote> |
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The commission and its report was criticised as biased by the People's Union for Civil Liberties and [[Human Rights Watch]]. According to a Human Rights Watch report on the commission: |
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[[People's Union for Civil Liberties]] criticised the Misra commission for keeping information on the accused secret while revealing the names and addresses of victims of violence.<ref>{{Citation |title=Justice Denied|url= |year=1987 |publisher=People's Union for Civil Liberties and People's Union for Democratic Right }}</ref> |
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<blockquote>It recommended no criminal prosecution of any individual, and it cleared all high-level officials of directing the pogroms. In its findings, the commission did acknowledge that many of the victims testifying before it had received threats from local police. While the commission noted that there had been "widespread lapses" on the part of the police, it concluded that "the allegations before the commission about the conduct of the police are more of indifference and negligence during the riots than of any wrongful overt act."<ref name="Patricia Gossman 1991"/></blockquote> |
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===Kapur Mittal Committee=== |
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The People's Union for Civil Liberties criticised the Misra Commission for concealing information on the accused while disclosing the names and addresses of victims.<ref>{{Citation |title=Justice Denied|year=1987 |publisher=People's Union for Civil Liberties and People's Union for Democratic Right }}</ref> |
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Kapur Mittal Committee was appointed in February 1987 on the recommendation of the Misra Commission to enquire into the role of the police, which the Marwah Commission had almost completed in 1985 itself, when the government asked that committee to wind up and not proceed further. |
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=== Kapur Mittal Committee === |
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After almost two years, this committee was appointed for the same purpose. This committee consisted of Justice Dalip Kapur and Mrs Kusum Mittal, retired Secretary of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. It submitted its report in 1990. Seventy-two police officers were identified for their connivance or gross negligence. The committee recommended forthwith dismissal of 30 police officers out of 72. However, till date, not a single police officer has been awarded any kind of punishment. |
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The Kapur Mittal Committee was appointed in February 1987 at the recommendation of the Misra Commission to enquire into the role of the police; the Marwah Commission had almost completed a police inquiry in 1985 when the government asked that committee not to continue. This committee consisted of Justice Dalip Kapur and Kusum Mittal, retired Secretary of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. It submitted its report in 1990, and 72 police officers were cited for conspiracy or gross negligence. Although the committee recommended the dismissal of 30 of the 72 officers, none have been punished. |
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===Jain Banerjee Committee=== |
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This committee was recommended by the Misra Commission for recommending registration of cases. |
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It consisted of Justice M.L. Jain, former Judge of the [[Delhi High Court]] and Mr A.K. Banerjee, retired [[Inspector General of Police]]. |
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=== Jain Banerjee Committee === |
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The Misra Commission held in its report that a large number of cases had not been registered and wherever the victims named political leaders or police officers, cases were not registered against them. This committee recommended registration of cases against Mr [[Sajjan Kumar]] in August 1987, but no case was registered. |
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The Jain Banerjee Committee was recommended by the Misra Commission for the registration of cases. The committee consisted of former Delhi High Court judge M. L. Jain and retired [[Inspector General of Police]] A. K. Banerjee. |
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In November 1987, press reports criticised the government for not registering cases despite the recommendation of the committee. In December 1987, one of the co-accused along with Sajjan Kumar, namely Mr Brahmanand Gupta filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court and obtained a stay against this committee. The government did not oppose the stay. The [[Citizen's Justice Committee]] filed an application for vacating the stay. Ultimately, the writ petition was decided in August 1989 and the high court quashed the appointment of this committee. An appeal was filed by the Citizens Justice Committee in the [[Supreme Court of India]]. |
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In its report, the Misra Commission stated that many cases (particularly those involving political leaders or police officers) had not been registered. Although the Jain Banerjee Committee recommended the registration of cases against Sajjan Kumar in August 1987, no case was registered. |
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===Potti Rosha Committee=== |
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In November 1987, press reports criticised the government for not registering cases despite the committee's recommendation. The following month, Brahmanand Gupta (accused with Sajjan Kumar) filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court and obtained a [[stay of proceedings]] against the committee which was not opposed by the government. The [[Citizen's Justice Committee]] filed an application to [[Vacated judgment|vacate]] the stay. The writ petition was decided in August 1989 and the high court abolished the committee. An appeal was filed by the Citizen's Justice Committee in the Supreme Court of India. |
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Potti Rosha Committee was appointed in March 1990, by the V.P. Singh government, as a successor to the Jain Banerjee Committee. In August 1990, Potti-Rosha issued recommendations for filing cases based on affidavits victims of the violence had submitted. There was one against [[Sajjan Kumar]]. A [[Central Bureau of Investigation|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. |
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As a result of this intimidation, when Potti-Rosha's term expired in September 1990, Potti and Rosha decided to disband their inquiry. |
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=== |
=== Potti Rosha Committee === |
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The Potti Rosha Committee was appointed in March 1990 by the [[V. P. Singh ministry|V.P. Singh government]] as a successor to the Jain Banerjee Committee. In August 1990, the committee issued recommendations for filing cases based on affidavits submitted by victims of the violence; there was one against Sajjan Kumar. When a [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] team went to Kumar's home to file the charges, his supporters held and threatened them if they persisted in pursuing Kumar. When the committee's term expired in September 1990, Potti and Rosha<!-- First names would be helpful. --> decided to end their inquiry. |
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The committee was appointed in December 1990 as a successor to the Potti Rosha Committee. It consisted of Justice J.D. Jain, retired Judge of the Delhi High Court and Mr D.K. Aggarwal, retired DGP of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. This committee recommended registration of cases against [[H.K.L. Bhagat]], [[Sajjan Kumar]], [[Dharamdas Shastri]] and [[Jagdish Tytler]]. |
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=== Jain Aggarwal Committee === |
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The Committee also suggested setting up of two – three Special Investigating Teams in the Delhi Police under a [[Deputy commissioner of police (India)|Deputy Commissioner of Police]] and the overall supervision by the [[Additional Commissioner of Police]], In-charge – CID and also to review the work-load of the three Special Courts set up to deal with October – November 1984 riots cases exclusively so that these cases could be taken up on day-to-day basis. |
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The Jain Aggarwal Committee was appointed in December 1990 as a successor to the Potti Rosha Committee. It consisted of Justice J. D. Jain and retired Uttar Pradesh [[Director General of Police]] D. K. Aggarwal. The committee recommended the registration of cases against prominent Congress leaders like [[H. K. L. Bhagat]], [[Sajjan Kumar]], [[Dharamdas Shastri]] and [[Jagdish Tytler]].<ref>https://www.refworld.org/reference/countryrep/mrgi/2008/en/78956#:~:text=The%20Jain%2DAggarwal%20Committee%20set,taking%20part%20in%20the%20riots.</ref> These cases weren't registered by police. |
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The question of appointment of Special Prosecutors to deal with October – November 1984 riots cases exclusively was also discussed. This committee was wound up in August 1993. However, the cases recommended by this committee were not even registered by the police. |
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It suggested establishing two or three special investigating teams in the [[Delhi Police]] under a [[Superintendent of police (India)|deputy commissioner of police]], supervised by an [[Deputy inspector general of police|additional commissioner of police]] answerable to the [[Crime Investigation Department (India)|CID]], and a review of the work-load of the three special courts set up to deal with the riot cases. The appointment of special prosecutors to deal the cases was also discussed. The committee was wound up in August 1993, but the cases it recommended were not registered by the police. |
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===Ahuja Committee=== |
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=== Ahuja Committee === |
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Ahuja Committee was the third committee recommended by the Misra Commission to ascertain the total number of killings in Delhi. |
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This committee submitted its report in August 1987 and gave a figure of 2,733 as the number of Sikhs killed in Delhi alone. |
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The Ahuja Committee was the third committee recommended by the Misra Commission to determine the total number of deaths in Delhi. According to the committee, which submitted its report in August 1987, 2,733 Sikhs were killed in the riots. |
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===Dhillon Committee=== |
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=== Dhillon Committee === |
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The Dhillon Committee, headed by Mr [[Gurdial Singh Dhillon]] was appointed in 1985 to recommend measures for the rehabilitation '''of the victims. This''' committee submitted its report by the end of 1985. One of its major recommendations was that the business establishments, which had insurance cover, but whose insurance claims were not settled by insurance companies on the technical ground that riot was not covered under insurance, should be paid compensation under the directions of the government. |
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This committee recommended that since all insurance companies were nationalised, they be directed to pay the claims. However, the government did not accept this recommendation and as a result insurance claims were rejected by all insurance companies throughout the country. |
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The Dhillon Committee, headed by [[Gurdial Singh Dhillon]], was appointed in 1985 to recommend measures for the rehabilitation of victims. The committee submitted its report by the end of the year.{{vague|date=August 2017}} One major recommendation was that businesses with insurance coverage whose claims were denied should receive compensation as directed by the government. Although the committee recommended ordering the (nationalised) insurance companies to pay the claims, the government did not accept its recommendation and the claims were not paid. |
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===Narula Committee=== |
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Narula Committee was appointed in December 1993 by the [[Madan Lal Khurana]] led BJP government in Delhi. One of the recommendations of the Narula Committee was to convince the Central Government to grant sanction in this matter. |
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=== Narula Committee === |
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[[Madan Lal Khurana|Mr. Khurana]] took up the matter with the Central Government and in the middle of 1994, the Central Government decided that the matter did not fall within its purview and sent the case to the Lt. Governor of Delhi. It took two years for the [[Narasimha Rao]] Government to decide that it did not fall within Centre's purview. |
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The Narula Committee was appointed in December 1993 by the [[Madan Lal Khurana]]-led BJP government in [[Delhi]]. One recommendation of the committee was to convince the central government to impose sanctions. |
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Narasimha Rao Government further delayed the case. This committee submitted its report in January 1994 and recommended the registration of cases against [[H.K.L. Bhagat]] and [[Sajjan Kumar]]. Ultimately, despite the delay by the Central government, the CBI was able to file the charge sheet in December 1994. |
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Khurana took up the matter with the central government, which in the middle of 1994, the Central Government decided that the matter did not fall within its purview and sent the case to the lieutenant governor of Delhi. It took two years for the [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]] government to decide that it did not fall within its purview. |
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===The Nanavati Commission=== |
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The [[Nanavati Commission]] was established in 2000 after some dissatisfaction was expressed with previous reports.<ref name="bbc_incited">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4130962.stm|title=Leaders 'incited' anti-Sikh riots|publisher=BBC News |work=[[BBC Online]] | date = 8 August 2005 |accessdate=20 June 2010}}</ref> The [[Nanavati Commission]] was appointed by a unanimous resolution passed in the [[Rajya Sabha]]. This commission was headed by [[G.T. Nanavati|Justice G.T. Nanavati]], retired Judge of the [[Supreme Court of India]]. The commission submitted its report in February 2004. The commission reported that recorded accounts from victims and witnesses "indicate that local Congress leaders and workers had either incited or helped the mobs in attacking the Sikhs".<ref name="bbc_incited"/> Its report also found evidence against Jagdish Tytler "to the effect that very probably he had a hand in organising attacks on Sikhs".<ref name="bbc_incited"/> It also recommended that [[Sajjan Kumar]]'s involvement in the rioting required a closer look. The commission's report also cleared [[Rajiv Gandhi]] and other high ranking [[Congress (I)]] party members of any involvement in organising riots against Sikhs. It did find, however, that the [[Delhi Police]] fired about 392 rounds of bullets, arrested approximately 372 persons, and "remained passive and did not provide protection to the people" throughout the rioting.<ref name="bbc_incited"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Report:Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry |url=http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/Nanavati-I_eng.pdf |format=pdf|accessdate=27 April 2012}}</ref> |
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The Narasimha Rao Government further delayed the case. The committee submitted its report in January 1994, recommending the registration of cases against H. K. L. Bhagat and Sajjan Kumar. Despite the central-government delay, the CBI filed the charge sheet in December 1994. |
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===Role of Jagdish Tytler=== |
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[[File:Jagdish Tytler.jpg|thumb|right|x216px|text|[[Jagdish Tytler]] in 2010]] |
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India's [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI) closed all cases against [[Jagdish Tytler]] in November 2007 for his alleged criminal conspiracy to engineer riots against Sikhs in the aftermath of [[Indira Gandhi]]’s assassination on 31 October 1984. |
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CBI submitted a report to the Delhi court which stated that no evidence or witness was found to corroborate the allegations against Tytler of leading murderous mobs during 1984 [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071219/main1.htm Re-probe Tytler’s role: Court].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7149322.stm |title=Fresh probe into India politician |publisher=BBC News |date=18 December 2007 |accessdate=23 September 2009}}</ref> It was also alleged in the court that then member of [[Indian Parliament]] Jagdish Tytler was complaining to his supporters about relatively "small" number of Sikhs killed in his parliamentary constituency [[Delhi Sadar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Delhi Sadar]], which in his opinion had undermined his position in the ruling [[Indian National Congress]] party of India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071219/main1.htm |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Main News |work=The Tribune |location=India |accessdate=23 September 2009|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20090207115707/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071219/main1.htm |archivedate = 7 February 2009|deadurl=yes}}</ref> |
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=== The Nanavati Commission === |
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However in December 2007, a certain witness, Dushyant Singh, who is living in California, appeared on several private television news channels in India, and stated he was never contacted by Central Bureau of Investigation. |
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India's main opposition party [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) demanded an explanation from the minister in-charge of CBI in [[Indian Parliament]]. |
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However, Minister of State for Personnel [[Suresh Pachouri]], who is in-charge of department of CBI, and was present in the parliament session, refused to make a statement.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-11-30/india/27986032_1_anti-sikh-riots-bjp-members-key-witness |title=BJP to govt: Clear stand on anti-Sikh riots' witness |work=The Times of India |date=30 November 2007 |accessdate=23 September 2009}}</ref> |
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The [[Nanavati Commission]] was established in 2000 after some dissatisfaction was expressed with previous reports.<ref name="bbc_incited">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4130962.stm|title=Leaders 'incited' anti-Sikh riots|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=8 August 2005|access-date=20 June 2010|archive-date=4 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091104224459/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4130962.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The Nanavati Commission was appointed by a unanimous resolution passed in the [[Rajya Sabha]]. This commission was headed by [[G.T. Nanavati|Justice G.T. Nanavati]], retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India. The commission submitted its report in February 2004. The commission reported that recorded accounts from victims and witnesses "indicate that local Congress leaders and workers had either incited or helped the mobs in attacking the Sikhs".<ref name="bbc_incited"/> Its report also found evidence against Jagdish Tytler "to the effect that very probably he had a hand in organising attacks on Sikhs".<ref name="bbc_incited"/> It also said that [[P. V. Narasimha Rao|P.V. Narasimha Rao]] was asked to send the army to stop the violence. Rao responded with saying that he would look into it.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Riots |first=India Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry, 1984 Anti-Sikh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Th55ORUxZzkC |title=Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry (1984 Anti-Sikh Riots): Report |date=2005 |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs |pages=131}}</ref> It also recommended that Sajjan Kumar's involvement in the rioting required a closer look. The commission's report also cleared [[Rajiv Gandhi]] and other high ranking [[Congress (I)]] party members of any involvement in organising riots against Sikhs. It did find, however, that the [[Delhi Police]] fired about 392 rounds of bullets, arrested approximately 372 persons, and "remained passive and did not provide protection to the people" throughout the rioting.<ref name="bbc_incited"/><ref name="Nanavati">{{cite web|title=Report:Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry|url=http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/Nanavati-I_eng.pdf|access-date=27 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111217234430/http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/Nanavati-I_eng.pdf|archive-date=17 December 2011}}</ref> |
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On 18 December 2007, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Delhi court, Sanjeev Jain, who had earlier dismissed the case after CBI submitted a misleading report in his court, ordered India's Central Bureau of Investigation to reopen cases relating to 1984 anti-Sikh riots against Jagdish Tytler.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-12-18/india/27992363_1_case-against-congress-leader-riots-case-jagdish-tytler |title=1984 riots: CBI to re-investigate Tytler's role |work=The Times of India |date=18 December 2007 |accessdate=23 September 2009}}</ref> |
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=== Role of Jagdish Tytler === |
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In December 2008, a two-member CBI team was sent to New York to record the statements of two eyewitnesses, Jasbir Singh and Surinder Singh. The two witnesses have stated that they saw Jagdish Tytler lead a mob during the riot, but did not want to come to India as they feared for their security.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/anti-sikh-riots-witness-to-give-statement-to-cbi-in-us/81216-3.html |title=Anti Sikh riots witness to give statement to CBI in US |publisher=Ibnlive.in.com |accessdate=23 September 2009}}</ref> They also blamed the CBI for not conducting a fair trial and accused it of protecting Tytler. |
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The Central Bureau of Investigation closed all cases against [[Jagdish Tytler]] in November 2007 for his alleged criminal conspiracy to engineer riots against Sikhs in the aftermath of [[Indira Gandhi]]'s assassination. The bureau submitted a report to the Delhi court that no evidence or witness was found to corroborate allegations that Tytler led murderous mobs during 1984.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7149322.stm |title=Fresh probe into India politician |publisher=BBC News |date=18 December 2007 |access-date=23 September 2009 |archive-date=19 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219064433/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7149322.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> It was alleged in court that Tytler – then an MP – complained to his supporters about the relatively-"small" number of Sikhs killed in his constituency ([[Delhi Sadar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Delhi Sadar]]), which he thought had undermined his position in the Congress Party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071219/main1.htm |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Main News |work=The Tribune |location=India |access-date=23 September 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090207115707/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071219/main1.htm |archive-date = 7 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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However, in March 2009, CBI gave a clean chit to Tytler, amidst protests from Sikhs and the opposition parties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cbi-gives-tytler-clean-chit-in-1984-riots-case/442552/ |title=CBI gives Tytler clean chit in 1984 riots case |work=The Indian Express |location=India |date=3 April 2009 |accessdate=23 September 2009}}</ref> |
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In December 2007 a witness, Dushyant Singh (then living in [[California]]), appeared on several private television news channels in India saying that he was never contacted by the CBI. The opposition [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) demanded an explanation in [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] from Minister of State for Personnel [[Suresh Pachouri]], who was in charge of the CBI. Pachouri, who was present, refused to make a statement.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-11-30/india/27986032_1_anti-sikh-riots-bjp-members-key-witness |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516114320/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-11-30/india/27986032_1_anti-sikh-riots-bjp-members-key-witness |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 May 2012 |title=BJP to govt: Clear stand on anti-Sikh riots' witness |date=30 November 2007 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=23 September 2009}}</ref> Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of the Delhi Court Sanjeev Jain, who had dismissed the case against Tytler after the CBI submitted a misleading report, ordered the CBI to reopen cases against Tytler related to the riots on 18 December 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-12-18/india/27992363_1_case-against-congress-leader-riots-case-jagdish-tytler |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516123219/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-12-18/india/27992363_1_case-against-congress-leader-riots-case-jagdish-tytler |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 May 2012 |title=1984 riots: CBI to re-investigate Tytler's role |date=18 December 2007 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=23 September 2009}}</ref> |
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On 7 April 2009, a Sikh reporter with [[Dainik Jagran]], [[Jarnail Singh (journalist)|Jarnail Singh]] hurled his shoe at home minister [[P Chidambaram]] in protest against the clean chit given to Tytler and Sajjan Kumar. He was however let off as the home minister did not want the police to pursue the case, in lieu of the upcoming Lok Sabha (general) elections.<ref>[http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/C40A9A14F90E819A6525759100479796?OpenDocument:Chidambaram faces shoe missile from scribe]{{Dead link|date=June 2009|bot=WebCiteBOT}}</ref> |
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In December 2008 a two-member CBI team went to New York to record statements from Jasbir Singh and Surinder Singh, two eyewitnesses. The witnesses said that they saw Tytler lead a mob during the riot, but did not want to return to India because they feared for their safety.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/anti-sikh-riots-witness-to-give-statement-to-cbi-in-us/81216-3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224141706/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/anti-sikh-riots-witness-to-give-statement-to-cbi-in-us/81216-3.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 December 2008 |title=Anti Sikh riots witness to give statement to CBI in US |publisher=Ibnlive.in.com |access-date=23 September 2009}}</ref> They blamed the CBI for not conducting a fair trial, accusing the bureau of protecting Tytler. |
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On 9 April 2009, over 500 protesters from various Sikh organisations from all over the country gathered outside the court which was scheduled to hear CBI's plea of closing the case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in the 1984 anti-Sikh riotscase. Later in the day, Tytler announced his decision to pull out of the Lok Sabha elections, saying he does not want to cause embarrassment to his party. This has forced the Congress party to cut the Tytler and Sajjan Kumar Lok Sabha tickets.<ref>{{cite news|author=Smriti Singh |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-09/india/28035281_1_gurudwara-pulbangash-anti-sikh-riots-case-sikhs-protest |title=Sikhs protest outside court hearing Tytler case |work=The Times of India |date=9 April 2009 |accessdate=23 September 2009}}</ref> |
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On 10 April 2013, Delhi court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to reopen the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler.Court ordered CBI to further probe killing of 3 persons in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which Jagdish Tytler was given clean chit.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Anti-Sikh-riots-case-against-Jagdish-Tytler-reopened/Article1-1040274.aspx|title= Anti-Sikh riots case against Jagdish Tytler reopened}}</ref> |
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In March 2009, the CBI cleared Tytler amidst protests from Sikhs and the opposition parties.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cbi-gives-tytler-clean-chit-in-1984-riots-case/442552/ |title=CBI gives Tytler clean chit in 1984 riots case |work=The Indian Express |location=India |date=3 April 2009 |access-date=23 September 2009 |archive-date=26 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090526084243/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cbi-gives-tytler-clean-chit-in-1984-riots-case/442552 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 7 April, Sikh ''[[Dainik Jagran]]'' reporter [[Jarnail Singh (journalist)|Jarnail Singh]] threw his shoe at [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Home Minister]] [[P. Chidambaram]] to protest the clearing of Tytler and Sajjan Kumar. Because of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Chidambaram did not press charges.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rai |first1=Shambhavi |last2=Malik |first2=Devika |title=Jarnail Singh: Profile of a shoe thrower |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jarnail-singh-profile-of-a-shoe-thrower/89722-3.html |publisher=IBN Live |date=8 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411040401/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jarnail-singh-profile-of-a-shoe-thrower/89722-3.html |archive-date=11 April 2009}}</ref> |
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===Civil case in New York=== |
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[[File:Kamal Nath - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2008.jpg|thumb|right|x108px|text|[[Kamal Nath]] in 2008]] |
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On 14 March 2011, an American-based NGO, [[Sikhs for Justice]], filed a civil suit in the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of New York]] accusing the Indian government of complicity in the riots. The court issued a summons to the Indian Congress Party and [[Kamal Nath]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.sify.com/news/us-court-summons-congress-party-on-sikh-riots-case-news-international-ldcmOeeiebi.html|title = US court summons Congress party on Sikh riots case|publisher = Sify|date = 2 March 2011<!-- 12:50:00-->| accessdate=15 March 2011}}</ref> |
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<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-16/india/31200563_1_kamal-nath-sikh-individuals-gurpatwant-singh-pannun |title=US court to hear 1984 anti-Sikh riots case on March 29 as Congress hires US law firm to defend itself |newspaper=[[Times of India]] |date=16 March 2012 |accessdate=27 April 2012}}</ref> |
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<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article1503665.ece |title=U.S. court issues summons to Congress for anti-Sikh riots |work=The Hindu |date=2 March 2011 |location=Chennai, India| accessdate=8 November 2011 }}</ref> The court complaint was dismissed in March 2012 by Judge Robert Sweet of the US District Court Southern District of New York, against Nath, who stated that the court lacked jurisdiction in the case.<ref>["'84 Riots: US Court Dismisses Complaint Against Nath" , "Outlook India", 16 March 2012, http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=755797]</ref> The 22-page order granted Nath's motion to dismiss the claim, and the judge also noted that 'Sikhs for Justice' failed to “serve the summons and its complaints to Nath in an appropriate and desired manner.”<ref>["US court dismisses plea against Nath in anti-Sikh riots case" , "IBN Live", 16 March 2012, http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/us-court-dismisses-plea-against-nath-in-antisikh-riots-case/975976.html]</ref> On 3 September 2013 a Federal Court in New York issued summons to [[Sonia Gandhi]] for her alleged role in protecting the culprits of the 1984 Anti Sikh Riots.<ref>{{cite web|title=New York Court summons Sonia Gandhi in 1984 Sikh Riots Case|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2013/09/new-york-court-summons-sonia-gandhi-in-1984-sikh-riots-case/|accessdate=4 September 2013}}</ref> On 11 July 2014, US court dismissed the lawsuit against Sonia Gandhi.<ref>{{cite news|title=US court give relief to Sonia Gandhi in Sikh riots case|url=http://www.patrika.com/news/us-court-give-relief-to-sonia-gandhi-in-sikh-riots-case/1017253|accessdate=11 July 2014|work=Patrika Group|date=11 July 2014}}</ref> |
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Two days later, over 500 protesters from Sikh organisations throughout India gathered outside the court which was scheduled to hear the CBI's plea to close the case against Tytler. Later in the day, Tytler announced that he was withdrawing from the Lok Sabha elections to avoid embarrassing his party. This forced the Congress Party to cut the Tytler and Sajjan Kumar Lok Sabha tickets.<ref>{{cite news|author=Smriti Singh |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-09/india/28035281_1_gurudwara-pulbangash-anti-sikh-riots-case-sikhs-protest |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811084000/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-09/india/28035281_1_gurudwara-pulbangash-anti-sikh-riots-case-sikhs-protest |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 August 2011 |title=Sikhs protest outside court hearing Tytler case |date=9 April 2009 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=23 September 2009}}</ref> |
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===Alleged Role of Amitabh Bachchan=== |
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On 10 April 2013, the Delhi court ordered the CBI to reopen the 1984 case against Tytler. The court ordered the bureau to investigate the killing of three people in the riot case, of which Tytler had been cleared.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Anti-Sikh-riots-case-against-Jagdish-Tytler-reopened/Article1-1040274.aspx|title= Anti-Sikh riots case against Jagdish Tytler reopened|access-date= 10 April 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130410170210/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Anti-Sikh-riots-case-against-Jagdish-Tytler-reopened/Article1-1040274.aspx|archive-date= 10 April 2013|url-status= dead}}</ref> In 2015, Delhi Court directed the CBI to include Billionaire [[arms dealer]] [[Abhishek Verma (arms dealer)|Abhishek Verma]] as the main witness in this case against Tytler. Following court's directions, Verma's testimony was recorded by the CBI and the case was reopened. [[Polygraph]] (lie-detector) test was ordered by the court to be conducted on witness Verma and also on Tytler after obtaining their consent.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-26 |title=1984 anti-Sikh riots: Witness Abhishek Verma agrees to undergo polygraph test |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/1984-anti-sikh-riots-witness-abhishek-verma-agrees-to-undergo-polygraph-test/story-udW6nPS3S10pjdrRYGLx1K.html |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=The Hindustan Times}}</ref> Verma consented, Tytler declined to be tested. Thereafter, Verma started to receive threat calls and letters in which he was threatened to be blownup and his family also would be blown up if he testifies against Tytler. The [[Delhi High Court]] directed [[Delhi Police]] to provide 3x3 security cover of 9 armed police bodyguards to Verma and his family on round the clock basis.<ref>{{Cite news |last=ANI |date=2017-10-29 |title=1984 Anti-Sikh riots: Abhishek Verma receives 'death threats', files writ complaint with Police |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/1984-anti-sikh-riots-abhishek-verma-receives-death-threats-files-writ-complaint-with-police-117102900406_1.html |access-date=2022-10-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Provide Security To 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Witness: High Court To Cops |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/provide-security-to-1984-anti-sikh-riots-witness-abhishek-verma-delhi-high-court-to-cops-2331087 |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> |
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[[Bollywood]] actor [[Amitabh Bachchan]] was accused by certain members of the [[Sikh]] community of instigating attacks<ref name="TOI_artcle1">{{cite news|url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-20/india/30302488_1_criminal-code-act-1995-sikh-riots-jagdish-kaur |title= 1984 riots: 'Why nobody noticed Amitabh Bachchan spewing venom in India’|publisher=[[The Times of India]]|date=20 October 2011}}</ref> He is alleged to have made polemic remarks saying "Khoon ka Badla Khoon se lenge" (“Blood for Blood”).<ref name="TOI_artcle1"/><ref name="TOI_artcle2">{{cite news|url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-03/india/30471560_1_amitabh-bachchan-anti-sikh-aissf |title= Riots victims seek murder charges against Amitabh Bachchan|publisher=[[The Times of India]]|date=3 December 2011}}</ref><ref name="OneIndia_article1">{{cite news|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2011/12/03/84-sikh-riots-victim-demand-framing-muder-charges-big-b.html |title= 84 victims demand framing of murder charges against Big B|publisher=[[OneIndia]]|date=3 December 2011}}</ref><ref name="TribuneIndia_article1">{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111216/punjab.htm#7 |title= 84 anti-Sikh riots: Another witness comes forward against Bachchan|publisher=[[TribuneIndia]]|date=15 December 2011}}</ref> Responding to the allegations, Mr Bachchan is said to pleading his innocence to the [[Akal Takht]].<ref name="ToI_article4">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-02/india/30467138_1_anti-sikh-riots-jathedar-giani-gurbachan-singh|title= Amitabh Bachchan writes to Akal Takht, pleads innocence in ’84 anti-Sikh riots|publisher=[[The Times of India]]|date=2 December 2011}}</ref><ref name="HT_article4">{{cite news|url= http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Punjab/Amitabh-Bachchan-writes-letter-to-Akal-Takht/Article1-776883.aspx |title= Amitabh Bachchan writes letter to Akal Takht|publisher=[[Hindustantimes]]|date=2 December 2011}}</ref><ref name="IBNLive_article4">{{cite news|url= http://ibnlive.in.com/news/amitabh-bachchan-writes-letter-to-akal-takht/207877-8.html |title= Amitabh Bachchan writes letter to Akal Takht|publisher=[[IBNLive]]|date=2 December 2011}}</ref> |
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=== {{anchor|Civil case in New York}}New York civil case === |
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===Recent Investigations=== |
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In April 2014, a Sting operation conducted by [[Cobrapost]] claimed that the [[Government of India|Government]] didn't allow [[Delhi Police]] to act in 1984 riots. It further claimed that messages were broadcast directing police to not take action against rioters. Even fire brigade refused to move to areas where cases of arson were reported.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cobrapost Sting: Government didn’t allow police to act in 1984 riots|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/04/cobrapost-sting-government-didnt-allow-police-to-act-in-1984-riots/|work=IANS|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|accessdate=22 April 2014}}</ref> |
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[[Sikhs for Justice]], a U.S.-based [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]], filed a civil suit in the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of New York]] on 14 March 2011 accusing the Indian government of complicity in the riots. The court issued a summons to the Congress Party and [[Kamal Nath]], who was accused by the [[Nanavati commission]] of encouraging rioters.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.sify.com/news/us-court-summons-congress-party-on-sikh-riots-case-news-international-ldcmOeeiebi.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110305050129/http://www.sify.com/news/us-court-summons-congress-party-on-sikh-riots-case-news-international-ldcmOeeiebi.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 5 March 2011|title = US court summons Congress party on Sikh riots case|website = [[Sify]]|date = 2 March 2011<!-- 12:50:00 -->| access-date=15 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-16/india/31200563_1_kamal-nath-sikh-individuals-gurpatwant-singh-pannun |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909012821/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-16/india/31200563_1_kamal-nath-sikh-individuals-gurpatwant-singh-pannun |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 September 2013 |title=US court to hear 1984 anti-Sikh riots case on March 29 as Congress hires US law firm to defend itself |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=16 March 2012 |access-date=27 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article1503665.ece |title=U.S. court issues summons to Congress for anti-Sikh riots |work=The Hindu |date=2 March 2011 |location=Chennai, India |access-date=8 November 2011 |archive-date=5 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305030523/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article1503665.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> The complaint against Nath was dismissed in March 2012 by Judge [[Robert W. Sweet]], who ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction in the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=755797 |title='84 Riots: US Court Dismisses Complaint Against Nath |access-date=3 January 2013 |url-status=dead |work=Outlook India|date=2012-03-16|first1=Yoshita|last1=Singh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927083547/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=755797 |archive-date=27 September 2013 }}</ref> The 22-page order granted Nath's motion to dismiss the claim, with Sweet noting that Sikhs for Justice failed to "serve the summons and its complaints to Nath in an appropriate and desired manner".<ref>{{cite news |title=US court dismisses plea against Nath in anti-Sikh riots case |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/234860/us-court-dismisses-plea-against.html |work=Deccan Herald |date=16 March 2012}}</ref> On 3 September 2013, a federal court in New York issued a [[Summons#United States|summons]] to [[Sonia Gandhi]] for her alleged role in protecting participants in the riots.<ref>{{cite web|title=New York Court summons Sonia Gandhi in 1984 Sikh Riots Case|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2013/09/new-york-court-summons-sonia-gandhi-in-1984-sikh-riots-case/|access-date=4 September 2013|archive-date=8 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908145230/http://news.biharprabha.com/2013/09/new-york-court-summons-sonia-gandhi-in-1984-sikh-riots-case/|url-status=live}}</ref> A U.S. court dismissed the lawsuit against Gandhi on 11 July 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=US court give relief to Sonia Gandhi in Sikh riots case|url=http://www.patrika.com/news/us-court-give-relief-to-sonia-gandhi-in-sikh-riots-case/1017253|access-date=11 July 2014|work=Patrika Group|date=11 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714163545/http://www.patrika.com/news/us-court-give-relief-to-sonia-gandhi-in-sikh-riots-case/1017253|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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==Impact and legacy== |
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{{quote box |quote=“It seemed easy for [former Prime Minister] Rajiv Gandhi to say, ‘When a giant tree falls, the earth below shakes.’ Our trees fell and we can still feel the tremors.” -Victim whose husband was burnt alive during the riots<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main41.asp?filename=Ne250409i_lived.asp|title=‘I Lived As A Queen. Now, I’m A Servant’|last=Naithani|first=Shobhita |date=25 April 2009|work=[[Tehelka]]|publisher=Tehelka|accessdate=10 March 2011}}</ref> |align=right|width=50%}} |
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The attack on the Sikh community in India is remembered annually in the United Kingdom with a remembrance march through London bringing together thousands of Sikhs from all over the UK.{{Citation needed|reason=your explanation here|date=January 2014}} The Sikh riots are cited as a reason to support creation of a Sikh homeland in India, often called [[Khalistan]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Nanavati |url=http://www.carnage84.com/homepage/nancom.htm |title=Nanavati Report |work=Nanavati commission |date=1 June 2010 |accessdate=1 June 2010| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100512163755/http://www.carnage84.com/homepage/nancom.htm| archivedate= 12 May 2010 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=BSSF |url=http://britishsikhstudentfederation.com/index/?attachment_id=1317 |title=Remembrance March in London |work= British Sikh Student Federation |date=1 June 2010 |accessdate=1 June 2010}}</ref> |
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=== {{anchor|Recent investigations}}Cobrapost operation === |
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Many ordinary Indians of different religious dispositions made significant efforts to hide and help Sikh families during the rioting.<ref name="KSingh">K. Singh: "Congress (I) is the Most Communal Party", Publik Asia, 16 November 1989.</ref> Recently on 15 July 2010 the Sikh high clergy (Jathedar) declared the events following the death of Indira Gandhi to be a Sikh "genocide" replacing the widely used term "anti-Sikh riots" used by the Indian government, media and other writers.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-16/india/28284593_1_sikhs-justice |work=The Times of India | first1=Yudhvir | last1=Rana | title=Sikh clergy: 1984 riots 'genocide' | date=16 July 2010| accessdate=4 November 2010 }}</ref> The decision came soon after a similar motion was raised in the Canadian Parliament by a Sikh MP. |
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According to an April 2014 ''[[Cobrapost]]'' [[sting operation]], the government muzzled the [[Delhi Police]] during the riots. Messages were broadcast directing the police not to act against rioters, and the fire brigade would not go to areas where cases of arson were reported.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cobrapost Sting: Government didn't allow police to act in 1984 riots|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/04/cobrapost-sting-government-didnt-allow-police-to-act-in-1984-riots/|agency=Indo-Asian News Service|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|access-date=22 April 2014|archive-date=23 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423233443/http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/04/cobrapost-sting-government-didnt-allow-police-to-act-in-1984-riots/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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==In popular culture== |
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The [[Delhi]] riots have been the core subject of several films and novels. |
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* 2005 English film ''[[Amu (film)|Amu]]'', by [[Shonali Bose]] and starring [[Konkona Sen Sharma]] and [[Brinda Karat]], is based on Shonali Bose's own novel of the same name. The film portrays the story of a girl, orphaned during the riots, reconciling with her adoption years later. The film which won the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in English]] was censored in India and was released on DVD without the cuts. |
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* 2004 Hindi film ''[[Kaya Taran]]'' (''Chrysalis''), directed by Shashi Kumar and starring [[Seema Biswas]], is based on the [[Malayalam]] short story "[[When Big Tree Falls]]" by [[N.S. Madhavan]]. The film revolves around a Sikh woman and her young son who have taken shelter in a nunnery in Meerut during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. |
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* 2003 Bollywood film ''[[Hawayein]]'', a team project of [[Babbu Maan]] and [[Ammtoje Mann]], is based on the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination, the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and the subsequent victimisation of the people in Punjab in the years that followed. |
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* [[Khushwant Singh]]'s novel "Tragedy of Punjab: Operation Bluestar & After" focuses on the events surrounding the riots. |
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* Jarnail Singh's non fiction book 'I Accuse' describes various incidents that took place during the riots. |
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* Chapter 2 of Mohit Sharma's [[Graphic Novel]] '84 Tears' is a poetic account of a Sikh girl before committing suicide whose family is killed by anti-Sikh mob. |
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* Uma Chakravarthi and Nandita Hakser, "The Delhi Riots: Three Days in the Life of a Nation" contains interviews with the victims of November 1984 riots in Delhi. |
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*In the novel about [[Khan Noonien Singh]], [[The Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh]] a Sikh character from the [[Star Trek]] series and films, there is a reference to the anti-Sikh pogroms. |
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*H.S Phoolka, along with human rights activist and journalist Manoj Mitta, has written the first account of the 1984 Anti-Sikh massacre in the form of a book titled "When a Tree Shook Delhi". |
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=== Special Investigation Team (Supreme Court) === |
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==See also== |
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* [[H. S. Phoolka]] |
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In January 2018, the [[Supreme Court of India]] decided to form a three-member [[Special Investigation Team (India)|Special Investigation Team]] (SIT) of its own to probe 186 cases related to 1984 anti-Sikh riots that were not further investigated by Union Government formed SIT. This SIT would consists of a former High court judge, a former IPS officer whose rank is not less than or equivalent to [[Inspector general]] and a serving IPS Officer.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-to-form-new-sit-to-probe-186-anti-skih-riots-cases/article22411073.ece|title=Supreme Court to form its own special team to probe 186 anti-Sikh riots cases|last=Rajagopal|first=Krishnadas|date=10 January 2018|work=The Hindu|access-date=11 January 2018|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=10 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610171302/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-to-form-new-sit-to-probe-186-anti-skih-riots-cases/article22411073.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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* [[Operation Blue Star]] |
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== Recognition as a genocide == |
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While there has been no formal state recognition of the 1984 massacre as a genocide, Sikh communities both in India and the diaspora continue to lobby for its acknowledgment. |
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=== India === |
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The [[Jathedar of the Akal Takht]], the head figure of Sikhs worldwide, declared the events following the death of Indira Gandhi a Sikh "[[genocide]]" on 15 July 2010, replacing the term "anti-Sikh riots" widely used by the Indian government, the media, and writers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rana |first1=Yudhvir |date=16 July 2010 |title=Sikh clergy: 1984 riots 'genocide' |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-16/india/28284593_1_sikhs-justice |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811084010/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-16/india/28284593_1_sikhs-justice |archive-date=11 August 2011 |access-date=4 November 2010 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> This decision came soon after a similar motion was raised in the Canadian Parliament.<ref name="Sikh MP article">{{Cite web |date=2010-06-17 |title=Canadian Sikh MP distances himself from riots petition |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/print/canadian-sikh-mp-distances-himself-from-riots-petition/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227010243/https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/print/canadian-sikh-mp-distances-himself-from-riots-petition/ |archive-date=2023-02-27 |access-date=2023-02-26 |website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> |
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=== United States === |
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==== California ==== |
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On 16 April 2015, Assembly Concurrent Resolution 34 (ACR 34) was passed by the [[California State Assembly]]. Co-authored by Sacramento-area assembly members Jim Cooper, Kevin McCarty, Jim Gallagher and Ken Cooley, the resolution criticized the Government for participating in and failing to prevent the killings. The assembly called the killings a "genocide", as it "resulted in the intentional destruction of many Sikh families, communities, homes and businesses."<ref name="indiatimes.com">{{cite news |date=22 April 2015 |title=California assembly describes 1984 riots as 'genocide' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/California-assembly-describes-1984-riots-as-genocide/articleshow/47011681.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906022815/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/California-assembly-describes-1984-riots-as-genocide/articleshow/47011681.cms |archive-date=6 September 2018 |access-date=10 March 2019 |newspaper=The Times of India |agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref><ref name="ca.gov">{{cite web |title=Bill Text |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml;jsessionid=f2b94bb85b29eb4c706d647133cf?bill_id=201520160ACR34 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828203302/https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml;jsessionid=f2b94bb85b29eb4c706d647133cf?bill_id=201520160ACR34 |archive-date=28 August 2018 |access-date=28 April 2015 |publisher=ca.gov}}</ref> |
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==== Connecticut ==== |
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In February 2018, American state of Connecticut, passed a bill stating, 30 November of each year to be "Sikh Genocide" Remembrance Day to remember the lives lost on 30 November 1984, during the Sikh Genocide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=An Act Designating Various Days and Weeks |url=https://www.cga.ct.gov/2018/TOB/s/2018SB-00489-R00-SB.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828134629/https://www.cga.ct.gov/2018/TOB/s/2018SB-00489-R00-SB.htm |archive-date=28 August 2018 |access-date=28 August 2018}}</ref> |
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=== Canada === |
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In 2024, Canada's [[New Democratic Party]] (NDP) plans to seek recognition of the '1984 Sikh Genocide' in the country's parliament on its 40th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite news |title=NDP remembers the 1984 Sikh Genocide on its 40th anniversary |url=https://www.ndp.ca/news/ndp-remembers-1984-sikh-genocide-its-40th-anniversary |work=NDP}}</ref> |
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==== Ontario ==== |
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In April 2017, the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario|Ontario Legislature]] passed a motion condemning the anti-Sikh riots as "genocide".<ref>{{cite news |title=Canadians have a right to be 'concerned' about 1984 Sikh massacre, Harjit Sajjan says |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/sajjan-india-massacre-1.4076467 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419230145/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/sajjan-india-massacre-1.4076467 |archive-date=19 April 2017 |access-date=20 April 2017}}</ref> The Indian government lobbied against the motion and condemned it upon its adoption. |
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In 2024, the City of [[Brampton|Brampton, Ontario]] recognised 'Sikh Genocide Week'. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Flag Raisings and Half-Mastings |url=https://www.brampton.ca/EN/City-Hall/Protocol-Office/pages/flag-raising-half-mastings.aspx#:~:text=November%201%2D7%3A%20Sikh%20Genocide,8%3A%20National%20Aboriginal%20Veterans%20Day |website=City of Brampton}}</ref> |
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== Impact and legacy == |
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On 12 August 2005, [[Manmohan Singh]] apologised in the [[Lok Sabha]] for the riots.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2005/aug/11pm.htm|title=PM apologises for 84 anti-Sikh riots|work=Rediff.com|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=9 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509122507/https://www.rediff.com/news/2005/aug/11pm.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/the-india-cables/manmohan-singhs-apology-for-antisikh-riots-a-gandhian-moment-of-moral-clarity-says-2005-cable/article1715620.ece|title=Manmohan Singh's apology for anti-Sikh riots a 'Gandhian moment of moral clarity,' says 2005 cable|newspaper=The Hindu|date=21 April 2011|last1=Suroor|first1=Hasan|access-date=27 July 2015|archive-date=29 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129063059/http://www.thehindu.com/news/the-india-cables/manmohan-singhs-apology-for-antisikh-riots-a-gandhian-moment-of-moral-clarity-says-2005-cable/article1715620.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> The riots are cited as a reason to support the creation of a Sikh homeland in India, often called [[Khalistan]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Nanavati |url=http://www.carnage84.com/homepage/nancom.htm |title=Nanavati Report |work=Nanavati commission |date=1 June 2010 |access-date=1 June 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100512163755/http://www.carnage84.com/homepage/nancom.htm| archive-date= 12 May 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=BSSF |url=http://britishsikhstudentfederation.com/index/?attachment_id=1317 |title=Remembrance March in London |work=British Sikh Student Federation |date=1 June 2010 |access-date=1 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425160914/http://britishsikhstudentfederation.com/index/?attachment_id=1317 |archive-date=25 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main41.asp?filename=Ne250409i_lived.asp|title='I Lived As A Queen. Now, I'm A Servant'|last=Naithani|first=Shobhita|date=25 April 2009|work=Tehelka|access-date=10 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716203529/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main41.asp?filename=Ne250409i_lived.asp|archive-date=16 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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On 15 January 2017, the [[Wall of Truth]] was inaugurated in [[Lutyens' Delhi]], New Delhi, as a memorial for Sikhs killed during the 1984 riots (and other hate crimes across the world).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Wall-of-truth-to-tell-you-1984-riots-story-by-Nov-end/articleshow/55166239.cms|title='Wall of truth' to tell you 1984 riots' story by Nov-end|last=Pandit|first=Ambika|date=1 November 2016|website=The Times of India|access-date=24 September 2019|archive-date=12 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012170247/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Wall-of-truth-to-tell-you-1984-riots-story-by-Nov-end/articleshow/55166239.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/wall-of-truth-to-have-names-of-all-sikhs-killed-in-hate-crimes-dsgmc/story-8LSUMGWkxpWxpVUE6x2H0M.html|title='Wall of Truth' to have names of all Sikhs killed in hate crimes: DSGMC|date=10 July 2018|website=The Hindustan Times|access-date=24 September 2019|archive-date=24 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924135826/https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/wall-of-truth-to-have-names-of-all-sikhs-killed-in-hate-crimes-dsgmc/story-8LSUMGWkxpWxpVUE6x2H0M.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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== In popular culture == |
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The anti-Sikh riots have been the subject of several films and novels: |
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* The 2022 [[Netflix]] movie ''[[Jogi (2022 film)|Jogi]]'', starring [[Diljit Dosanjh]], directed by [[Ali Abbas Zafar]], is set against the backdrop of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in [[Trilokpuri Assembly constituency|Trilokpuri]], [[Delhi]]. It tells the story of a Sikh man named Jogi whose goal is to save his family, friends and fellow neighbours from a massacre that killed thousands of Sikhs. |
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* The 2021 web television series ''[[Grahan (TV series)|Grahan]]'', starring [[Pavan Malhotra]], [[Wamiqa Gabbi]], and [[Zoya Hussain]], and created by Shailendra Kumar Jha and directed by Ranjan Chandel, for [[Disney+ Hotstar|Hotstar]], is inspired by [[Satya Vyas]]' popular novel Chaurasi. It is the first series to deal with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that happened in [[Bokaro district|Bokaro]], [[Jharkhand]]. The series is centered on the nexus between politics and law enforcement. |
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* The 2005 English film ''[[Amu (film)|Amu]]'', by [[Shonali Bose]] and starring [[Konkona Sen Sharma]] and [[Brinda Karat]], is based on [[Shonali Bose]]'s novel of the same name. The film tells the story of a girl, orphaned during the riots, who reconciles with her adoption years later. Although it won the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in English]], it was censored in India but was released on DVD without the cuts.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bilkis Bano: 'I Want Justice, Not Revenge, I Want My Daughters to Grow Up in a Safe India'|url=https://thewire.in/133493/i-want-justice-not-revenge-bilkis-bano-expresses-gratitude-to-mumbai-high-court/|access-date=10 May 2017|work=The Wire|date=8 May 2017|archive-date=9 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509115937/https://thewire.in/133493/i-want-justice-not-revenge-bilkis-bano-expresses-gratitude-to-mumbai-high-court/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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* The 2004 [[Hindi]] film ''[[Kaya Taran]]'' (''Chrysalis''), directed by Shashi Kumar and starring [[Seema Biswas]], is based on the [[Malayalam]] short story "[[When Big Tree Falls]]" by [[N.S. Madhavan]]. The film revolves around a Sikh woman and her young son, who took shelter in a Meerut nunnery during the riots. |
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* The 2003 Bollywood film ''[[Hawayein (2003 film)|Hawayein]]'', a project of [[Babbu Maan]] and [[Ammtoje Mann]], is based on the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination, the 1984 riots and the subsequent victimisation of the Punjabi people. |
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* [[Mamoni Raisom Goswami]]'s [[Assamese language|Assamese]] novel, ''Tej Aru Dhulire Dhusarita Prishtha'' (''Pages Stained with Blood''), focuses on the riots. |
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* [[Khushwant Singh]] and [[Kuldip Nayar]]'s book, ''Tragedy of Punjab: Operation Bluestar & After'', focuses on the events surrounding the riots. |
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* Jarnail Singh's non-fiction book, ''I Accuse'', describes incidents which occurred during the riots. |
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* Uma Chakravarthi and Nandita Hakser's book, ''The Delhi Riots: Three Days in the Life of a Nation'', has interviews with victims of the Delhi riots. |
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* [[H. S. Phoolka]] and human-rights activist and journalist Manoj Mitta wrote the first account of the riots, ''When a Tree Shook Delhi''. |
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* [https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/a-huge-crime-against-humanity/article5335298.ece HELIUM (a novel of 1984, published by Bloomsbury in 2013) by Jaspreet Singh<nowiki>]</nowiki>] |
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* The 2014 Punjabi film, ''[[Punjab 1984]]'' with [[Diljit Dosanjh]], is based on the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination, the riots and the subsequent victimisation of the Punjabi people. |
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* The 2016 Bollywood film, ''[[31st October (film)|31st October]]'' with [[Vir Das]], is based on the riots. |
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* The 2016 [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] film, ''[[Dharam Yudh Morcha (film)|Dharam Yudh Morcha]]'', is based on the riots. |
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* The 2001 ''Star Trek'' novel ''[[The Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh]]'' by Gary Cox, a 14-year-old [[Khan Noonien Singh|Khan]], who is depicted as a North Indian from a family of [[Sikhs]], is caught up in the riots while reading in a used book stall in Nai Sarak. He is injured, doused with kerosene and nearly set on fire by a mob before being rescued by [[Gary Seven]]. |
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== See also == |
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* [[Black July]] (1985) |
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* [[Nellie massacre]] (1983) |
* [[Nellie massacre]] (1983) |
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* [[Operation Blue Star]] (1984) |
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* [[List of massacres in India]] |
* [[List of massacres in India]] |
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* [[Air India Flight 182]] |
* [[Air India Flight 182]] |
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==Notes== |
== Notes == |
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{{Reflist|group=note}} |
{{Reflist|group=note}} |
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==References== |
== References == |
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{{Reflist}} |
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{{reflist|colwidth=30em}} |
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==Further reading== |
== Further reading == |
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{{Refbegin|40em}} |
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* {{cite book|last=Singh|first=Parvinder|title=1984 Sikhs’ Kristallnacht|url=http://www.ensaaf.org/pdf/reports/kristallnacht.pdf|date=May 2009|publisher=Ensaaf| accessdate=4 November 2010 }} |
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* Pav Singh. ''1984 India's Guilty Secret.'' (Rupa & Kashi House 2017). |
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* {{cite book |last1=Rao |first1=Amiya |last2=Ghose |first2=Aurobindo |last3=Pancholi |first3=N. D. |location=India |title=Truth about Delhi violence: report to the nation |url=http://www.carnage84.com/human/truth/truth.htm |accessdate=30 July 2010 |year=1985 |publisher=Citizens for Democracy}} |
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* {{cite book |first1=Amiya |last1=Rao |first2=Aurobindo |last2=Ghose |first3=N. D. |last3=Pancholi |location=India |title=Truth about Delhi violence: report to the nation |url=http://www.carnage84.com/human/truth/truth.htm |access-date=30 July 2010 |year=1985 |publisher=Citizens for Democracy |archive-date=8 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708121627/http://www.carnage84.com/human/truth/truth.htm |url-status=live }} |
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* {{cite book|last1=Kaur|first1=Jaskaran|last2=Crossette|first2=Barbara|title=Twenty years of impunity: the November 1984 pogroms of Sikhs in India|url=http://ensaaf-org.jklaw.net/publications/reports/20years/20years-2nd.pdf|edition=2nd|year=2006|publisher=Ensaaf|location=Portland, OR|isbn=978-0-9787073-0-9| accessdate=4 November 2010 }} |
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* {{cite book|first1=Jaskaran|last1=Kaur|first2=Barbara|last2=Crossette|title=Twenty years of impunity: the November 1984 pogroms of Sikhs in India|url=http://ensaaf-org.jklaw.net/publications/reports/20years/20years-2nd.pdf|edition=2nd|year=2006|publisher=Ensaaf|location=Portland, OR|isbn=978-0-9787073-0-9|access-date=4 November 2010|archive-date=19 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119015130/http://ensaaf-org.jklaw.net/publications/reports/20years/20years-2nd.pdf|url-status=live}} |
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* Cynthia Keppley Mahmood. ''Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues With Sikh Militants.'' University of Pennsylvania Press, ISBN 978-0-8122-1592-2. |
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* Cynthia Keppley Mahmood. '' |
* Cynthia Keppley Mahmood. ''Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues With Sikh Militants.'' University of Pennsylvania Press, {{ISBN|978-0-8122-1592-2}}. |
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* Ram Narayan Kumar et al. ''Reduced to Ashes: The Insurgency and Human Rights in Punjab.'' |
* Ram Narayan Kumar et al. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060705030307/http://www.punjabjustice.org/report/report.htm ''Reduced to Ashes: The Insurgency and Human Rights in Punjab.''][[South Asia Forum for Human Rights]], 2003. Archived from the on 12 July 2003. |
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* Joyce Pettigrew. ''The Sikhs of the Punjab: Unheard Voices of State and Guerrilla Violence.'' Zed Books Ltd., 1995. |
* Joyce Pettigrew. ''The Sikhs of the Punjab: Unheard Voices of State and Guerrilla Violence.'' Zed Books Ltd., 1995. |
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* Anurag Singh. |
* Anurag Singh. ''Giani Kirpal Singh's Eye-Witness Account of Operation Bluestar.'' 1999. |
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* Patwant Singh. ''The Sikhs.'' New York: Knopf, 2000. |
* Patwant Singh. ''The Sikhs.'' New York: Knopf, 2000. |
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* Harnik Deol. |
* Harnik Deol. ''Religion and Nationalism in India: The Case of the Punjab.'' London: Routledge, 2000 |
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* Mark Tully. ''Amritsar: Mrs Gandhi's Last Battle.'' |
* Mark Tully. ''Amritsar: Mrs Gandhi's Last Battle.'' {{ISBN|978-0-224-02328-3}}. |
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* Ranbir Singh Sandhu. ''Struggle for Justice: Speeches and Conversations of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.'' Ohio: SERF, 1999. |
* Ranbir Singh Sandhu. ''Struggle for Justice: Speeches and Conversations of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.'' Ohio: SERF, 1999. |
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* Iqbal Singh. |
* Iqbal Singh. ''Punjab Under Siege: A Critical Analysis.'' New York: Allen, McMillan and Enderson, 1986. |
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* [[Paul Brass]]. ''Language, Religion and Politics in North India.'' Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1974. |
* [[Paul Brass]]. ''Language, Religion and Politics in North India.'' Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1974. |
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* PUCL report "[[Who Are The Guilty]]. |
* PUCL report "[[Who Are The Guilty]]." [https://web.archive.org/web/20180411054723/http://www.pucl.org/Topics/Religion-communalism/2003/who-are-guilty.htm Link to report.] |
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* Manoj Mitta & H.S. Phoolka. ''When a Tree Shook Delhi'' (Roli Books, 2007), ISBN |
* Manoj Mitta & H.S. Phoolka. ''When a Tree Shook Delhi'' (Roli Books, 2007), {{ISBN|978-81-7436-598-9}}. |
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* Jarnail Singh, 'I Accuse...' (Penguin Books India, 2009), ISBN |
* Jarnail Singh, 'I Accuse...' (Penguin Books India, 2009), {{ISBN|978-0-670-08394-7}} |
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* Jyoti Grewal, 'Betrayed by the state: the anti-Sikh pogrom of 1984' (Penguin Books India, 2007), ISBN |
* Jyoti Grewal, 'Betrayed by the state: the anti-Sikh pogrom of 1984' (Penguin Books India, 2007), {{ISBN|978-0-14-306303-2}} |
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{{Refend}} |
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== External links == |
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* [http://info.indiatimes.com/1984/ 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Homepage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321085903/http://www1.info.indiatimes.com/1984/ |date=21 March 2018 }} at ''[[Times of India]]'' |
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==External links== |
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100712065753/http://districts.delhigovt.nic.in/84RIOTS/84RIOTS.htm 1984 riots case records], Government of Delhi |
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* [http://info.indiatimes.com/1984/ 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Homepage] at ''[[Times of India]]'' |
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* [http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~arandhaw/classweb/home.htm 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: The Causes and The Repercussions] |
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* [http://districts.delhigovt.nic.in/84RIOTS/84RIOTS.htm 1984 riots case records], Government of Delhi |
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* [http://www.witness84.com/reports/misra/ Misra Commission Report] |
* [http://www.witness84.com/reports/misra/ Misra Commission Report] |
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* [http://www.witness84.com/reports/ahooja/ Ahooja Committee Report] |
* [http://www.witness84.com/reports/ahooja/ Ahooja Committee Report] |
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* [http://www.witness84.com/human/ccsikri/CITIZENS witness84.com], Commission – Sikri Report |
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* [http://www.witness84.com/guilty/ Who Are The Guilty?] |
* [http://www.witness84.com/guilty/ Who Are The Guilty?] |
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* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8319737.stm In pictures: Massacre of the Sikhs] |
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8319737.stm In pictures: Massacre of the Sikhs] |
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* [http://www.radiopunjabi24x7.ca/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10 Punjab Chief Minister, Prakash Singh Badal, faces anger of Sikhs in USA] |
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* [http://indianterrorism.bravepages.com/evidence.htm Evidence of Indian Government's involvement in the massacres of Sikh civilians in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination] |
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{{Religious persecution}} |
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{{Sikh politics}} |
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{{Riots in India}} |
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{{Sikh politics}}{{Authority control}} |
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{{coord missing|Delhi}} |
{{coord missing|Delhi}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Anti-Sikh Riots}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anti-Sikh Riots, 1984}} |
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[[Category:1984 |
[[Category:1984 anti-Sikh riots| ]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:1980s in Delhi]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:1984 murders in India]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:20th-century mass murder in India]] |
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[[Category:Assassination of Indira Gandhi]] |
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[[Category:Attacks on religious buildings and structures in India]] |
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[[Category:History of the Indian National Congress]] |
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[[Category:Sexual violence at riots and crowd disturbances]] |
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[[Category:History of Delhi (1947–present)]] |
[[Category:History of Delhi (1947–present)]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:1980s in Punjab, India]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Religious riots in India]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Ethnic cleansing]] |
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[[Category:Ethnic cleansing in Asia]] |
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<ref>http://www.sikhsforjustice.org/?q=content/know-the-facts</ref> |
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[[Category:Massacres in India]] |
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[[Category:Massacres in 1984]] |
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[[Category:Massacres of Sikhs]] |
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[[Category:October 1984 events in Asia]] |
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[[Category:November 1984 events in Asia]] |
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[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 1984]] |
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[[Category:Pogroms]] |
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[[Category:Persecution of Sikhs]] |
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[[Category:Genocides in Asia]] |
Revision as of 14:16, 16 June 2024
1984 anti-Sikh riots | |||
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Part of the Insurgency in Punjab, India | |||
![]() Sikh man surrounded and beaten by a mob | |||
Date | 31 October – 3 November 1984 | ||
Location | |||
Caused by | Assassination of Indira Gandhi | ||
Goals | |||
Methods | Pogrom,[2] mass murder, mass rape, arson, plundering,[1] acid throwing,[3] immolation[4] | ||
Parties | |||
Casualties | |||
Death(s) | 3,350 (Indian government figure)[11][12] 8,000–17,000 Sikhs (other estimates)[dubious – discuss][4][13] |
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots, also known as the 1984 Sikh massacre, was a series of organised pogroms[14][15][5] against Sikhs in India following the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards.[16][17][18] Government estimates project that about 2,800 Sikhs were killed in Delhi[5][6] and 3,350 nationwide,[11][12] whilst other sources estimate the number of deaths at about 8,000–17,000.[dubious – discuss][4][13][19][20]
The assassination of Indira Gandhi itself had taken place after she had ordered Operation Blue Star, a military action to secure the Harmandir Sahib Sikh temple complex in Amritsar, Punjab, in June 1984.[21] The operation had resulted in a deadly battle with armed Sikh groups who were demanding greater rights and autonomy for Punjab and the deaths of many pilgrims. Sikhs worldwide had criticized the army action and many saw it as an assault on their religion and identity.[22][23][24]
In the aftermath of the pogroms, the government reported that 20,000 had fled the city; the People's Union for Civil Liberties reported "at least" 1,000 displaced persons.[25] The most-affected regions were the Sikh neighborhoods of Delhi. Human rights organizations and newspapers across India believed that the massacre was organized.[5][26][27] The collusion of political officials connected to the Indian National Congress in the violence and judicial failure to penalize the perpetrators alienated Sikhs and increased support for the Khalistan movement.[28] The Akal Takht, Sikhism's governing body, considers the killings a genocide.[29][30][31]
In 2011, Human Rights Watch reported that the Government of India had "yet to prosecute those responsible for the mass killings".[32] According to the 2011 WikiLeaks cable leaks, the United States was convinced of the Indian National Congress' complicity in the riots and called it "opportunism" and "hatred" by the Congress government, of Sikhs.[33] Although the U.S. has not identified the riots as genocide, it acknowledged that "grave human rights violations" occurred.[34] In 2011, the burned sites of multiple Sikh killings from 1984, were discovered in Hondh-Chillar and Pataudi areas of Haryana.[35] The Central Bureau of Investigation believes that the violence was organised with support from the Delhi police and some central-government officials.[26]
After 34 years of delay, in December 2018, the first high-profile conviction for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots took place with the arrest of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court.[36] Very few convictions have taken place in the pending 1984 cases, with only one death penalty conviction for an accused, Yashpal in the case of murdering Sikhs in the Mahipalpur area of Delhi.[37][38][39]
Background
In the 1972 Punjab state elections, Congress won and Akali Dal was defeated. In 1973, Akali Dal put forward the Anandpur Sahib Resolution to demand more autonomy to Punjab.[40] It demanded that power be generally devolved from the Central to state governments.[41] The Congress government considered the resolution a secessionist document and rejected it.[42] Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a prominent Sikh leader of Damdami Taksal, then joined the Akali Dal to launch the Dharam Yudh Morcha in 1982 to implement the Anandpur Sahib resolution. Bhindranwale had risen to prominence in the Sikh political circle with his policy of getting the Anandpur Resolution passed.[43] Others demanded an autonomous state in India, based on the Anandpur Sahib Resolution.
As high-handed police methods normally used on common criminals were used on protesters during the Dharam Yudh Morcha, creating state repression affecting a very large segment of Punjab's population, retaliatory violence came from a section of the Sikh population, widening the scope of the conflict by the use of violence of the state on its own people, creating fresh motives for Sikh youth to turn to insurgency.[44]: 32–33 The concept of Khalistan was still vague even while the complex was fortified under the influence of former Sikh army officials alienated by government actions who now advised Bhindranwale, Major General Shabeg Singh and retired Major General and Brigadier Mohinder Singh, and at that point the concept was still not directly connected with the movement he headed.[45] In other parts of Punjab, a "state of chaos and repressive police methods" combined to create "a mood of overwhelming anger and resentment in the Sikh masses against the authorities," making Bhindranwale even more popular, and demands of independence gain currency, even amongst moderates and Sikh intellectuals.[45]
By 1983, the situation in Punjab was volatile. In October, Sikh militants stopped a bus and shot six Hindu passengers. On the same day, another group killed two officials on a train.[46]: 174 The Congress-led central government dismissed the Punjab state government (led by their party), invoking the president's rule. During the five months before Operation Blue Star, from 1 January to 3 June 1984, 298 people were killed in violent incidents across Punjab. In the five days preceding the operation, 48 people were killed by violence.[46]: 175 According to government estimates, the number of civilians, police, and militants killed was 27 in 1981, 22 in 1982, and 99 in 1983.[47] By June 1984, the total number of deaths was 410 in violent incidents and riots while 1,180 people were injured.[48]
On 1 June, Operation Blue Star was launched to remove him and the armed militants from the Golden Temple complex.[49] On 6 June Bhindranwale died in the operation. Casualty figures for the Army were 83 dead and 249 injured.[50] According to the official estimate presented by the Indian government, 1592 were apprehended and there were 493 combined militant and civilian casualties.[51] Later operations by Indian paramilitary forces were conducted to clear the separatists from the state of Punjab.[52]
The operation carried out in the temple caused outrage among the Sikhs and increased the support for Khalistan Movement.[41] Four months after the operation, on 31 October 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated in vengeance by her two Sikh bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh.[53] One of the assassins was fatally shot by Gandhi's other bodyguards while the other was convicted of Gandhi's murder and then executed. Public outcry over Gandhi's death led to the killings of Sikhs in the ensuing 1984 anti-Sikh riots.[54][55]
Geo-Political Context
Before British colonization, Punjab was a region dominated by Sikh Misls, which were later unified into the Sikh Empire by Maharajah Ranjit Singh. Post the Second Anglo-Sikh War in 1849, the Sikh Empire was dissolved, leading to its integration into the British province of Punjab. This period saw the emergence of religio-nationalist movements as a response to British administrative policies and socio-political changes. The concept of a Sikh homeland, Khalistan, emerged in the 1930s as the British Empire began to dissolve. This idea gained momentum in response to the Muslim League's demand for a Muslim state, with the Sikhs viewing it as an encroachment on historically Sikh territory. The Akali Dal, a Sikh political party, envisioned Khalistan as a theocratic state, comprising parts of what is today Punjab in both India and Pakistan.
Post-independence, the Akali Dal led the Punjabi Suba movement, advocating for the creation of a Punjabi-majority state within India. The movement's demands ranged from autonomous statehood within India to a fully sovereign state (Khalistan). Initially, the Indian government resisted these demands, wary of creating another state based on religious grounds. By the late 1970s and 1980s, the Khalistan movement began to militarize, marked by a shift in Sikh nationalism and the rise of armed militancy. This period, especially leading up to and following Operation Blue Star in 1984, saw increased Sikh militancy as a response to perceived injustices and political marginalization.[56]
Violence
After the assassination of Indira Gandhi on 31 October 1984 by two of her Sikh bodyguards, anti-Sikh riots erupted the following day. They continued in some areas for several days, killing more than 3,000 Sikhs in New Delhi[57] and an estimated 8,000 – 20,000 Sikhs in total were killed across 40 cities in India.[58][4][5] At least 50,000 Sikhs were displaced.[4] Sultanpuri, Mangolpuri, Trilokpuri, and other Trans-Yamuna areas of Delhi were the worst affected. Perpetrators carried iron rods, knives, clubs, and combustible material (including kerosene and petrol). They entered Sikh neighbourhoods, killing Sikhs indiscriminately and destroying shops and houses. Armed mobs stopped buses and trains in and near Delhi, pulling off Sikh passengers for lynching; some were burnt alive. Others were dragged from their homes and hacked to death, and Sikh women were reportedly gang-raped and Sikhs also had acid thrown on them.[59][3]
Such wide-scale violence cannot take place without police help. Delhi Police, whose paramount duty was to upkeep law and order situation and protect innocent lives, gave full help to rioters who were in fact working under able guidance of sycophant leaders like Jagdish Tytler and H K L Bhagat. It is a known fact that many jails, sub-jails and lock-ups were opened for three days and prisoners, for the most part hardened criminals, were provided fullest provisions, means and instruction to "teach the Sikhs a lesson". But it will be wrong to say that Delhi Police did nothing, for it took full and keen action against Sikhs who tried to defend themselves. The Sikhs who opened fire to save their lives and property had to spend months dragging heels in courts after-wards.
— Jagmohan Singh Khurmi, The Tribune [full citation needed]
The grief, trauma, and survival of Sikh victims and witnesses is an important human perspective missing in much factual coverage of the riots. In interviews with Manoj Mitta and H.S. Phoolka for their book "When a Tree Shook Delhi," survivors recount harrowing tales of watching loved ones burned alive, raped, and dismembered. One Hindu woman describes her family sheltering over 70 Sikhs from murderous mobs who were targeting Sikh homes marked with an "S."Ensaaf's 2006 report "Twenty years of impunity" contains dozens of eyewitness statements accusing police and government officials of enabling and even participating in the violence. Personal stories help convey the true horrors endured by the Sikh community.
The riots have also been described as pogroms,[14][15][60] massacres[61][62] or genocide.[63][additional citation(s) needed]
Meetings and weapons distribution
On 31 October, a crowd around the All India Institute of Medical Sciences began shouting vengeance slogans such as "Blood for blood!" and became an unruly mob. At 17:20, President Zail Singh arrived at the hospital and the mob stoned his car. The mob began assaulting Sikhs, stopping cars and buses to pull Sikhs out and burn them.[18] The violence on 31 October, restricted to the area around the AIIMS, resulted in many Sikh deaths.[18] Residents of other parts of Delhi reported that their neighbourhoods were peaceful.
During the night of 31 October and the morning of 1 November, Congress Party leaders met with local supporters to distribute money and weapons. Congress MP Sajjan Kumar and trade-union leader Lalit Maken handed out ₹100 notes and bottles of liquor to the assailants.[18] On the morning of 1 November, Sajjan Kumar was observed holding rallies in the Delhi neighbourhoods of Palam Colony (from 06:30 to 07:00), Kiran Gardens (08:00 to 08:30), and Sultanpuri (about 08:30 to 09:00).[18] In Kiran Gardens at 8:00 am, Kumar was observed distributing iron rods from a parked truck to a group of 120 people and ordering them to "attack Sikhs, kill them, and loot and burn their properties".[18] During the morning he led a mob along the Palam railway road to Mangolpuri, where the crowd chanted: "Kill the Sardars" and "Indira Gandhi is our mother and these people have killed her".[64] In Sultanpuri, Moti Singh (a Sikh Congress Party member for 20 years) heard Kumar make the following speech:
Whoever kills the sons of the snakes, I will reward them. Whoever kills Roshan Singh and Bagh Singh will get 5,000 rupees each and 1,000 rupees each for killing any other Sikhs. You can collect these prizes on 3 November from my personal assistant Jai Chand Jamadar.[note 1]
The Central Bureau of Investigation told the court that during the riot, Kumar said that "not a single Sikh should survive".[26][66] The bureau accused Delhi Police of keeping its "eyes closed" during the riot, which was planned.[26]
In the Shakarpur neighbourhood, Congress Party leader Shyam Tyagi's home was used as a meeting place for an undetermined number of people.[65] According to a local Hindu witness, Minister of Information and Broadcasting H. K. L. Bhagat, gave money to Boop Tyagi (Tyagi's brother), saying: "Keep these two thousand rupees for liquor and do as I have told you ... You need not worry at all. I will look after everything."[65]
During the night of 31 October, Balwan Khokhar (a local Congress Party leader who was implicated in the massacre) held a meeting at Pandit Harkesh's ration shop in Palam.[65] Congress Party supporter Shankar Lal Sharma held a meeting, where he assembled a mob which swore to kill Sikhs, in his shop at 08:30 on 1 November.[65]
Kerosene, the primary mob weapon, was supplied by a group of Congress Party leaders who owned filling stations.[67] In Sultanpuri, Congress Party A-4 block president Brahmanand Gupta distributed oil while Sajjan Kumar "instructed the crowd to kill Sikhs, and to loot and burn their properties" (as he had done at other meetings throughout New Delhi).[67] Similar meetings were held at locations such as Cooperative Colony in Bokaro, where local Congress president and gas-station owner P. K. Tripathi distributed kerosene to mobs.[67] Aseem Shrivastava, a graduate student at the Delhi School of Economics, described the mobs' organised nature in an affidavit submitted to the Misra Commission:
The attack on Sikhs and their property in our locality appeared to be an extremely organized affair ... There were also some young men on motorcycles, who were instructing the mobs and supplying them with kerosene oil from time to time. On more than a few occasions we saw auto-rickshaw arriving with several tins of kerosene oil and other inflammable material, such as jute sacks.[68]
A senior official at the Ministry of Home Affairs told journalist Ivan Fera that an arson investigation of several businesses burned in the riots had found an unnamed combustible chemical "whose provision required large-scale coordination".[69] Eyewitness reports confirmed the use of a combustible chemical in addition to kerosene.[69] The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee later cited 70 affidavits noting the use of a highly-flammable chemical in its written reports to the Misra Commission.[67]
Congress Party voter-list use
On 31 October, Congress Party officials provided assailants with voter lists, school registration forms, and ration lists.[70] The lists were used to find Sikh homes and business, an otherwise-impossible task because they were in unmarked, diverse neighbourhoods. During the night of 31 October, before the massacres began, assailants used the lists to mark Sikh houses with an "S".[70] Because most mob members were illiterate, Congress Party officials provided help reading the lists and leading the mobs to Sikh homes and businesses in other neighbourhoods.[67] With the lists, the mobs could pinpoint the location of Sikhs they otherwise would have missed.[67]
Sikh men not at home were easily identified by their turbans and beards, and Sikh women were identified by their dress. In some cases, the mobs returned to locations where they knew Sikhs were hiding because of the lists. Amar Singh escaped the initial attack on his house by having a Hindu neighbour drag him into the neighbour's house and announce that he was dead. A group of 18 assailants later came looking for his body; when his neighbour said that his body had been taken away, an assailant showed him a list and said: "Look, Amar Singh's name has not been struck off from the list, so his body has not been taken away."[67]
International Perspectives
Organizations like ENSAAF, a Sikh rights group, have documented the involvement of senior political leaders, notably from the Congress Party, in orchestrating the violence. These organizations have provided detailed accounts of how the violence was not spontaneous but organized, with state machinery used to facilitate the massacres, including using government buses to transport mobs to Sikh localities.[71] Over the years, at least ten different commissions and committees were appointed by the Indian government to investigate the violence. These commissions faced criticism for a lack of transparency and effectiveness. The Misra Commission, for instance, was criticized for its in-camera proceedings and failure to allow victims' lawyers to attend or examine witnesses. Other commissions, such as the Kapoor-Mittal and Jain-Banerjee committees, recommended actions against police officers and politicians, but these recommendations were often not fully acted upon.[72]
The response within India was marked by a call for justice from various quarters, including victims and activists. The Indian government's formation of Special Investigation Teams (SITs) and the extension of their mandates were seen as efforts to address the issue, though some viewed these measures as inadequate. There has been a persistent demand for accountability and justice for the victims and survivors of the riots.[73]
Timeline
31 October
- 09:20: Indira Gandhi is shot by two of her Sikh security guards at her residence, and is rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
- 10:50: Gandhi dies.[74][75]
- 11:00: All India Radio reports that the guards who shot Gandhi were Sikhs.
- 16:00: Rajiv Gandhi returns from West Bengal to the AIIMS, where isolated attacks occur.
- 17:30: The motorcade of President Zail Singh, returning from a foreign visit, is stoned as it approaches the AIIMS. A bodyguard's turban is ripped off.[76]
Evening and night
- Organized, equipped gangs spread out from the AIIMS.
- Attacks are planned in a meeting at the home of the Minister of Information and Broadcasting[76]
- Violence towards Sikhs and destruction of Sikh property spreads.
- The "Seek blood for blood" statement is aired on state-controlled airwaves.[77]
- Rajiv Gandhi is sworn in as Prime Minister.
- Senior advocate and BJP leader Ram Jethmalani meets Home Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao and urges him to take immediate steps to protect Sikhs from further attacks.
- At night, homes of Sikh are identified by surveyors. They use lists to find homes, marking homes of Sikhs with an S.[78]
- At around 9 p.m. an elderly Sikh man is the first to be killed.[77]
- Delhi lieutenant governor P. G. Gavai and police commissioner S. C. Tandon visit the affected areas.
1 November
- Early in the morning organised mobs are transported outside of Delhi on buses and begin attacking Sikh neighbourhoods. They are equipped with firearms, knives, iron rods, clubs, and kerosene.[79]
- In the morning, Gurdwaras are attacked and burned.[80]
- At 7:00 a.m. mobs in Kanpur vandalise Sikh shops and loot Sikh homes. Local Congress leaders soon begin to lead mobs. Rapes and killings begin and continue till 4 November.[81]
- In the morning, mobs roam the Trilokpuri colony in East Delhi. In two narrow alleys of the colony, hundreds of Sikhs were "butchered" throughout the day. The killings continued for multiple days. According to an eyewitness, Sikhs were able to fend off some of the mobs. Police forces then came and stripped Sikhs of their weapons, and blocked all exit points. This left the Sikhs defenceless and vulnerable to the mobs.[82]
- In Trilokpuri colony: A father and his two sons were beaten and burned alive by a gang. The gang entered their home where a woman and her youngest son were found. She was stripped and raped by boys in front of her son. The woman tried to flee with her son after the rape, but the son was caught by a mob that beat him and burned him alive. The woman was also beaten and suffered multiple knife wounds and a broken arm.[83]
- In Trilokpuri colony: Women were grouped together and were dragged one by one to a mosque where they would be gang raped. According to one girl, she was raped by 15 men.[83]
- In Trilokpuri colony: 30 women are abducted and held in Chilla near Delhi. Some of the women were released on 3 November while the fate of the remaining women is unknown.[83]
- 09:00: Armed mobs take over the streets in Delhi. Gurdwaras are among the first targets. The worst-affected areas are low-income neighbourhoods such as Inderlok (erstwhile Trilokpuri), Shahdara, Geeta Colony, Mongolpuri, Sultanpuri and Palam Colony. Areas with prompt police intervention, such as Farsh Bazar and Karol Bagh, see few killings and little major violence.
- According to an eyewitness in Bihar, in the morning large crowds armed with weapons raised anti-Sikh chants and attacked the homes of Sikh. They broke into the eyewitnesses home and dragged out her parents and three brothers. They were each "butchered" as she watched helplessly.[84]
- At 6 PM a mob under the guidance of Congress leader Lalit Maken set fire to Pataudi's Gurdwara which created a panic in the city. As the armed mob rampaged through the town and set fire to Sikh homes in the city, one group of Sikhs escaped to the outskirts while another found shelter in a local Ashram.[85]
2 November
- Trains arrive in Delhi with dead bodies of Sikhs.[86]
- 17 Sikhs were burned alive in Pataudi.[84]
- In Pataudi, two teenage Sikh women were dragged in the middle of a street where they were stripped naked. They were beaten and urinated on. They were finally burned alive.[84]
- 500 armed men were allegedly transported in trucks to Hondh-Chillar. They yelled anti Sikh slogans before burning Sikhs alive in their homes and gang raping women.[87]
- A curfew is announced in Delhi, but is not enforced. Although the army is deployed throughout the city, the police did not co-operate with soldiers (who are forbidden to fire without the consent of senior police officers and executive magistrates).
3 November
- By late evening, army and local police units work together to subdue the violence. After law-enforcement intervention, violence is comparatively mild and sporadic. In Delhi, the bodies of riot victims are brought to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the Civil Hospital mortuary in Delhi.[88]
Aftermath
The Delhi High Court, delivering its verdict on a riot-related case in 2009, said:[89]
Though we boast of being the world's largest democracy and the Delhi being its national capital, the sheer mention of the incidents of 1984 anti-Sikh riots in general and the role played by Delhi Police and state machinery in particular makes our heads hang in shame in the eyes of the world polity.
The government allegedly destroyed evidence and shielded the guilty. Asian Age, an Indian daily newspaper, ran a front-page story calling the government actions "the mother of all cover-ups".[90][91]
From 31 October 1984 to 10 November 1984 the People's Union for Democratic Rights and the People's Union for Civil Liberties conducted an inquiry into the riots, interviewing victims, police officers, neighbours of the victims, army personnel and political leaders. In their joint report, "Who Are The Guilty", the groups concluded:
The attacks on members of the Sikh Community in Delhi and its suburbs during the period, far from being a spontaneous expression of "madness" and of popular "grief and anger" at Mrs. Gandhi's assassination as made out to be by the authorities, were the outcome of a well organised plan marked by acts of both deliberate commissions and omissions by important politicians of the Congress (I) at the top and by authorities in the administration.[25]
According to eyewitness accounts obtained by Time magazine, Delhi police looked on as "rioters murdered and raped, having gotten access to voter records that allowed them to mark Sikh homes with large Xs, and large mobs being bused in to large Sikh settlements".[92] Time reported that the riots led to only minor arrests, with no major politicians or police officers convicted. The magazine quoted Ensaaf,[93] an Indian human-rights organisation, as saying that the government attempted to destroy evidence of its involvement by refusing to record First Information Reports.[92]
A 1991 Human Rights Watch report on violence between Sikh separatists and the Government of India traced part of the problem to government response to the violence:
Despite numerous credible eye-witness accounts that identified many of those involved in the violence, including police and politicians, in the months following the killings, the government sought no prosecutions or indictments of any persons, including officials, accused in any case of murder, rape or arson.[94]
The violence was allegedly led (and often perpetrated) by Indian National Congress activists and sympathizers. The Congress-led government was widely criticised for doing little at the time and possibly conspiring in the riots, since voter lists were used to identify Sikh families.[27] Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) members also allegedly participated in the violence.[8]
The riots catalyzed lasting political and social changes among India's Sikhs. With the government failing to protect them, many Sikhs felt betrayed and marginalized, providing momentum to the Khalistan separatist movement.
Revenge killings
On 31 July 1985, Harjinder Singh Jinda, Sukhdev Singh Sukha and Ranjit Singh Gill of the Khalistan Commando Force assassinated Congress Party leader and Member of Parliament Lalit Maken in retaliation for the riots. The 31-page report, "Who Are The Guilty?", listed 227 people who led the mobs; Maken was third on the list.[95]
On 5 September 1985, Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha assassinated Congress (I) leader and member of Delhi Metropolitan Council Arjan Dass because of his involvement in the riots. Dass appeared in affidavits submitted by Sikh victims to the Nanavati Commission, headed by retired Supreme Court of India judge G. T. Nanavati.[96]
On 8 April 1988, Vilayati Ram Kaytal a Congress MLA of Uttar Pradesh was assassinated over his involvement in the riots. He allegedly led mobs.[97][98]
On 19 December 1991, Sikh militants killed 14 people. Among the 14 was Lala Ram. Ram was a Hindu militant who had been accused of inciting violence in the riots.[99][100]
In 2009 Khalistan Liberation Force members killed Dr. Budh Parkash Kashyap over his involvement in the riots.[101]
Convictions
In 1995, Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana said 46 persons have been prosecuted for their role in the riots.[102]
In Delhi, 442 rioters were convicted as of 2012. Forty-nine were sentenced to the life imprisonment, and another three to more than 10 years' imprisonment. Six Delhi police officers were sanctioned for negligence during the riots.[103] In April 2013, the Supreme Court of India dismissed the appeal of three people who had challenged their life sentences.[104] That month, the Karkardooma district court in Delhi convicted five people – Balwan Khokkar (former councillor), Mahender Yadav (former MLA), Kishan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal – for inciting a mob against Sikhs in Delhi Cantonment. The court acquitted Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, which led to protests.[105]
In the first ever case of capital punishment in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case death sentence was awarded to Yashpal Singh convicted for murdering two persons, 24-year-old Hardev Singh and 26-year-old Avtar Singh, in Mahipal Pur area of Delhi on 1 November 1984. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey pronounced the Judgement on 20 November 34 years after the crime was committed. The second convict in the case, Naresh Sehrawat was awarded life imprisonment. The Court considered the failing health of 68-year-old Sehrawat while giving him a lighter sentence. The conviction followed a complaint by the deceased Hardev Singh's elder brother Santokh Singh. Though an FIR was filed on the same day of the crime nothing came of the case as a Congress leader, JP Singh, who led the mob was acquitted in the case. A fresh FIR was filed on 29 April 1993, following recommendations of the Ranganath Commission of inquiry. The police closed the matter as untraced despite witness testimonies of the deceased's four brothers who were witness to the crime. The case was reopened by the Special Investigation Team constituted by the BJP-led NDA government on 12 February 2015. The SIT completed the investigation in record time.[37][38] The first conviction resulting from the formation of the SIT came on 15 November 2018, by the conviction of Naresh Sehrawat and Yashpal Singh.[39]
In December 2018, in one of the first high-profile convictions, former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court based on the re-opened investigation by the Special Investigation Team constituted by the NDA government in 2015.[36] On 20 September 2023, Kumar was acquitted over one case of murder in the riot.[106]
Investigations
Ten commissions or committees have been formed to investigate the riots. The most recent, headed by Justice G. T. Nanavati, submitted its 185-page report to Home Minister Shivraj Patil on 9 February 2005; the report was tabled in Parliament on 8 August of that year. The commissions below are listed in chronological order. Many of the accused were acquitted or never formally charged.
Marwah Commission
The Marwah Commission was appointed in November 1984. Ved Marwah, Additional Commissioner of Police, was tasked with enquiring into the role of the police during the riots. Many of the accused Delhi Police officers were tried in the Delhi High Court. As Marwah was completing his inquiry in mid-1985, he was abruptly directed by the Home Ministry not to proceed further.[107] The Marwah Commission records were appropriated by the government, and most (except for Marwah's handwritten notes) were later given to the Misra Commission.
Misra Commission
The Misra Commission was appointed in May 1985; Justice Rangnath Misra was a judge on the Supreme Court of India. Misra submitted his report in August 1986, and the report was made public in February 1987. In his report, he said that it was not part of his terms of reference to identify any individual and recommended the formation of three committees.
The commission and its report was criticised as biased by the People's Union for Civil Liberties and Human Rights Watch. According to a Human Rights Watch report on the commission:
It recommended no criminal prosecution of any individual, and it cleared all high-level officials of directing the pogroms. In its findings, the commission did acknowledge that many of the victims testifying before it had received threats from local police. While the commission noted that there had been "widespread lapses" on the part of the police, it concluded that "the allegations before the commission about the conduct of the police are more of indifference and negligence during the riots than of any wrongful overt act."[94]
The People's Union for Civil Liberties criticised the Misra Commission for concealing information on the accused while disclosing the names and addresses of victims.[108]
Kapur Mittal Committee
The Kapur Mittal Committee was appointed in February 1987 at the recommendation of the Misra Commission to enquire into the role of the police; the Marwah Commission had almost completed a police inquiry in 1985 when the government asked that committee not to continue. This committee consisted of Justice Dalip Kapur and Kusum Mittal, retired Secretary of Uttar Pradesh. It submitted its report in 1990, and 72 police officers were cited for conspiracy or gross negligence. Although the committee recommended the dismissal of 30 of the 72 officers, none have been punished.
Jain Banerjee Committee
The Jain Banerjee Committee was recommended by the Misra Commission for the registration of cases. The committee consisted of former Delhi High Court judge M. L. Jain and retired Inspector General of Police A. K. Banerjee.
In its report, the Misra Commission stated that many cases (particularly those involving political leaders or police officers) had not been registered. Although the Jain Banerjee Committee recommended the registration of cases against Sajjan Kumar in August 1987, no case was registered.
In November 1987, press reports criticised the government for not registering cases despite the committee's recommendation. The following month, Brahmanand Gupta (accused with Sajjan Kumar) filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court and obtained a stay of proceedings against the committee which was not opposed by the government. The Citizen's Justice Committee filed an application to vacate the stay. The writ petition was decided in August 1989 and the high court abolished the committee. An appeal was filed by the Citizen's Justice Committee in the Supreme Court of India.
Potti Rosha Committee
The Potti Rosha Committee was appointed in March 1990 by the V.P. Singh government as a successor to the Jain Banerjee Committee. In August 1990, the committee issued recommendations for filing cases based on affidavits submitted by victims of the violence; there was one against Sajjan Kumar. When a CBI team went to Kumar's home to file the charges, his supporters held and threatened them if they persisted in pursuing Kumar. When the committee's term expired in September 1990, Potti and Rosha decided to end their inquiry.
Jain Aggarwal Committee
The Jain Aggarwal Committee was appointed in December 1990 as a successor to the Potti Rosha Committee. It consisted of Justice J. D. Jain and retired Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police D. K. Aggarwal. The committee recommended the registration of cases against prominent Congress leaders like H. K. L. Bhagat, Sajjan Kumar, Dharamdas Shastri and Jagdish Tytler.[109] These cases weren't registered by police.
It suggested establishing two or three special investigating teams in the Delhi Police under a deputy commissioner of police, supervised by an additional commissioner of police answerable to the CID, and a review of the work-load of the three special courts set up to deal with the riot cases. The appointment of special prosecutors to deal the cases was also discussed. The committee was wound up in August 1993, but the cases it recommended were not registered by the police.
Ahuja Committee
The Ahuja Committee was the third committee recommended by the Misra Commission to determine the total number of deaths in Delhi. According to the committee, which submitted its report in August 1987, 2,733 Sikhs were killed in the riots.
Dhillon Committee
The Dhillon Committee, headed by Gurdial Singh Dhillon, was appointed in 1985 to recommend measures for the rehabilitation of victims. The committee submitted its report by the end of the year.[vague] One major recommendation was that businesses with insurance coverage whose claims were denied should receive compensation as directed by the government. Although the committee recommended ordering the (nationalised) insurance companies to pay the claims, the government did not accept its recommendation and the claims were not paid.
Narula Committee
The Narula Committee was appointed in December 1993 by the Madan Lal Khurana-led BJP government in Delhi. One recommendation of the committee was to convince the central government to impose sanctions.
Khurana took up the matter with the central government, which in the middle of 1994, the Central Government decided that the matter did not fall within its purview and sent the case to the lieutenant governor of Delhi. It took two years for the P. V. Narasimha Rao government to decide that it did not fall within its purview.
The Narasimha Rao Government further delayed the case. The committee submitted its report in January 1994, recommending the registration of cases against H. K. L. Bhagat and Sajjan Kumar. Despite the central-government delay, the CBI filed the charge sheet in December 1994.
The Nanavati Commission
The Nanavati Commission was established in 2000 after some dissatisfaction was expressed with previous reports.[110] The Nanavati Commission was appointed by a unanimous resolution passed in the Rajya Sabha. This commission was headed by Justice G.T. Nanavati, retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India. The commission submitted its report in February 2004. The commission reported that recorded accounts from victims and witnesses "indicate that local Congress leaders and workers had either incited or helped the mobs in attacking the Sikhs".[110] Its report also found evidence against Jagdish Tytler "to the effect that very probably he had a hand in organising attacks on Sikhs".[110] It also said that P.V. Narasimha Rao was asked to send the army to stop the violence. Rao responded with saying that he would look into it.[111] It also recommended that Sajjan Kumar's involvement in the rioting required a closer look. The commission's report also cleared Rajiv Gandhi and other high ranking Congress (I) party members of any involvement in organising riots against Sikhs. It did find, however, that the Delhi Police fired about 392 rounds of bullets, arrested approximately 372 persons, and "remained passive and did not provide protection to the people" throughout the rioting.[110][6]
Role of Jagdish Tytler
The Central Bureau of Investigation closed all cases against Jagdish Tytler in November 2007 for his alleged criminal conspiracy to engineer riots against Sikhs in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination. The bureau submitted a report to the Delhi court that no evidence or witness was found to corroborate allegations that Tytler led murderous mobs during 1984.[112] It was alleged in court that Tytler – then an MP – complained to his supporters about the relatively-"small" number of Sikhs killed in his constituency (Delhi Sadar), which he thought had undermined his position in the Congress Party.[113]
In December 2007 a witness, Dushyant Singh (then living in California), appeared on several private television news channels in India saying that he was never contacted by the CBI. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded an explanation in Parliament from Minister of State for Personnel Suresh Pachouri, who was in charge of the CBI. Pachouri, who was present, refused to make a statement.[114] Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of the Delhi Court Sanjeev Jain, who had dismissed the case against Tytler after the CBI submitted a misleading report, ordered the CBI to reopen cases against Tytler related to the riots on 18 December 2007.[115]
In December 2008 a two-member CBI team went to New York to record statements from Jasbir Singh and Surinder Singh, two eyewitnesses. The witnesses said that they saw Tytler lead a mob during the riot, but did not want to return to India because they feared for their safety.[116] They blamed the CBI for not conducting a fair trial, accusing the bureau of protecting Tytler.
In March 2009, the CBI cleared Tytler amidst protests from Sikhs and the opposition parties.[117] On 7 April, Sikh Dainik Jagran reporter Jarnail Singh threw his shoe at Home Minister P. Chidambaram to protest the clearing of Tytler and Sajjan Kumar. Because of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Chidambaram did not press charges.[118]
Two days later, over 500 protesters from Sikh organisations throughout India gathered outside the court which was scheduled to hear the CBI's plea to close the case against Tytler. Later in the day, Tytler announced that he was withdrawing from the Lok Sabha elections to avoid embarrassing his party. This forced the Congress Party to cut the Tytler and Sajjan Kumar Lok Sabha tickets.[119]
On 10 April 2013, the Delhi court ordered the CBI to reopen the 1984 case against Tytler. The court ordered the bureau to investigate the killing of three people in the riot case, of which Tytler had been cleared.[120] In 2015, Delhi Court directed the CBI to include Billionaire arms dealer Abhishek Verma as the main witness in this case against Tytler. Following court's directions, Verma's testimony was recorded by the CBI and the case was reopened. Polygraph (lie-detector) test was ordered by the court to be conducted on witness Verma and also on Tytler after obtaining their consent.[121] Verma consented, Tytler declined to be tested. Thereafter, Verma started to receive threat calls and letters in which he was threatened to be blownup and his family also would be blown up if he testifies against Tytler. The Delhi High Court directed Delhi Police to provide 3x3 security cover of 9 armed police bodyguards to Verma and his family on round the clock basis.[122][123]
New York civil case
Sikhs for Justice, a U.S.-based NGO, filed a civil suit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on 14 March 2011 accusing the Indian government of complicity in the riots. The court issued a summons to the Congress Party and Kamal Nath, who was accused by the Nanavati commission of encouraging rioters.[124][125][126] The complaint against Nath was dismissed in March 2012 by Judge Robert W. Sweet, who ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction in the case.[127] The 22-page order granted Nath's motion to dismiss the claim, with Sweet noting that Sikhs for Justice failed to "serve the summons and its complaints to Nath in an appropriate and desired manner".[128] On 3 September 2013, a federal court in New York issued a summons to Sonia Gandhi for her alleged role in protecting participants in the riots.[129] A U.S. court dismissed the lawsuit against Gandhi on 11 July 2014.[130]
Cobrapost operation
According to an April 2014 Cobrapost sting operation, the government muzzled the Delhi Police during the riots. Messages were broadcast directing the police not to act against rioters, and the fire brigade would not go to areas where cases of arson were reported.[131]
Special Investigation Team (Supreme Court)
In January 2018, the Supreme Court of India decided to form a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) of its own to probe 186 cases related to 1984 anti-Sikh riots that were not further investigated by Union Government formed SIT. This SIT would consists of a former High court judge, a former IPS officer whose rank is not less than or equivalent to Inspector general and a serving IPS Officer.[132]
Recognition as a genocide
While there has been no formal state recognition of the 1984 massacre as a genocide, Sikh communities both in India and the diaspora continue to lobby for its acknowledgment.
India
The Jathedar of the Akal Takht, the head figure of Sikhs worldwide, declared the events following the death of Indira Gandhi a Sikh "genocide" on 15 July 2010, replacing the term "anti-Sikh riots" widely used by the Indian government, the media, and writers.[133] This decision came soon after a similar motion was raised in the Canadian Parliament.[134]
United States
California
On 16 April 2015, Assembly Concurrent Resolution 34 (ACR 34) was passed by the California State Assembly. Co-authored by Sacramento-area assembly members Jim Cooper, Kevin McCarty, Jim Gallagher and Ken Cooley, the resolution criticized the Government for participating in and failing to prevent the killings. The assembly called the killings a "genocide", as it "resulted in the intentional destruction of many Sikh families, communities, homes and businesses."[135][136]
Connecticut
In February 2018, American state of Connecticut, passed a bill stating, 30 November of each year to be "Sikh Genocide" Remembrance Day to remember the lives lost on 30 November 1984, during the Sikh Genocide.[137]
Canada
In 2024, Canada's New Democratic Party (NDP) plans to seek recognition of the '1984 Sikh Genocide' in the country's parliament on its 40th anniversary.[138]
Ontario
In April 2017, the Ontario Legislature passed a motion condemning the anti-Sikh riots as "genocide".[139] The Indian government lobbied against the motion and condemned it upon its adoption.
In 2024, the City of Brampton, Ontario recognised 'Sikh Genocide Week'. [140]
Impact and legacy
On 12 August 2005, Manmohan Singh apologised in the Lok Sabha for the riots.[141][142] The riots are cited as a reason to support the creation of a Sikh homeland in India, often called Khalistan.[143][144][145]
On 15 January 2017, the Wall of Truth was inaugurated in Lutyens' Delhi, New Delhi, as a memorial for Sikhs killed during the 1984 riots (and other hate crimes across the world).[146][147]
In popular culture
The anti-Sikh riots have been the subject of several films and novels:
- The 2022 Netflix movie Jogi, starring Diljit Dosanjh, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, is set against the backdrop of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Trilokpuri, Delhi. It tells the story of a Sikh man named Jogi whose goal is to save his family, friends and fellow neighbours from a massacre that killed thousands of Sikhs.
- The 2021 web television series Grahan, starring Pavan Malhotra, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Zoya Hussain, and created by Shailendra Kumar Jha and directed by Ranjan Chandel, for Hotstar, is inspired by Satya Vyas' popular novel Chaurasi. It is the first series to deal with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that happened in Bokaro, Jharkhand. The series is centered on the nexus between politics and law enforcement.
- The 2005 English film Amu, by Shonali Bose and starring Konkona Sen Sharma and Brinda Karat, is based on Shonali Bose's novel of the same name. The film tells the story of a girl, orphaned during the riots, who reconciles with her adoption years later. Although it won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in English, it was censored in India but was released on DVD without the cuts.[148]
- The 2004 Hindi film Kaya Taran (Chrysalis), directed by Shashi Kumar and starring Seema Biswas, is based on the Malayalam short story "When Big Tree Falls" by N.S. Madhavan. The film revolves around a Sikh woman and her young son, who took shelter in a Meerut nunnery during the riots.
- The 2003 Bollywood film Hawayein, a project of Babbu Maan and Ammtoje Mann, is based on the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination, the 1984 riots and the subsequent victimisation of the Punjabi people.
- Mamoni Raisom Goswami's Assamese novel, Tej Aru Dhulire Dhusarita Prishtha (Pages Stained with Blood), focuses on the riots.
- Khushwant Singh and Kuldip Nayar's book, Tragedy of Punjab: Operation Bluestar & After, focuses on the events surrounding the riots.
- Jarnail Singh's non-fiction book, I Accuse, describes incidents which occurred during the riots.
- Uma Chakravarthi and Nandita Hakser's book, The Delhi Riots: Three Days in the Life of a Nation, has interviews with victims of the Delhi riots.
- H. S. Phoolka and human-rights activist and journalist Manoj Mitta wrote the first account of the riots, When a Tree Shook Delhi.
- HELIUM (a novel of 1984, published by Bloomsbury in 2013) by Jaspreet Singh]
- The 2014 Punjabi film, Punjab 1984 with Diljit Dosanjh, is based on the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination, the riots and the subsequent victimisation of the Punjabi people.
- The 2016 Bollywood film, 31st October with Vir Das, is based on the riots.
- The 2016 Punjabi film, Dharam Yudh Morcha, is based on the riots.
- The 2001 Star Trek novel The Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh by Gary Cox, a 14-year-old Khan, who is depicted as a North Indian from a family of Sikhs, is caught up in the riots while reading in a used book stall in Nai Sarak. He is injured, doused with kerosene and nearly set on fire by a mob before being rescued by Gary Seven.
See also
- Black July (1985)
- Nellie massacre (1983)
- Operation Blue Star (1984)
- List of massacres in India
- Air India Flight 182
Notes
References
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Further reading
- Pav Singh. 1984 India's Guilty Secret. (Rupa & Kashi House 2017).
- Rao, Amiya; Ghose, Aurobindo; Pancholi, N. D. (1985). Truth about Delhi violence: report to the nation. India: Citizens for Democracy. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
- Kaur, Jaskaran; Crossette, Barbara (2006). Twenty years of impunity: the November 1984 pogroms of Sikhs in India (PDF) (2nd ed.). Portland, OR: Ensaaf. ISBN 978-0-9787073-0-9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
- Cynthia Keppley Mahmood. Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues With Sikh Militants. University of Pennsylvania Press, ISBN 978-0-8122-1592-2.
- Ram Narayan Kumar et al. Reduced to Ashes: The Insurgency and Human Rights in Punjab.South Asia Forum for Human Rights, 2003. Archived from the on 12 July 2003.
- Joyce Pettigrew. The Sikhs of the Punjab: Unheard Voices of State and Guerrilla Violence. Zed Books Ltd., 1995.
- Anurag Singh. Giani Kirpal Singh's Eye-Witness Account of Operation Bluestar. 1999.
- Patwant Singh. The Sikhs. New York: Knopf, 2000.
- Harnik Deol. Religion and Nationalism in India: The Case of the Punjab. London: Routledge, 2000
- Mark Tully. Amritsar: Mrs Gandhi's Last Battle. ISBN 978-0-224-02328-3.
- Ranbir Singh Sandhu. Struggle for Justice: Speeches and Conversations of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Ohio: SERF, 1999.
- Iqbal Singh. Punjab Under Siege: A Critical Analysis. New York: Allen, McMillan and Enderson, 1986.
- Paul Brass. Language, Religion and Politics in North India. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1974.
- PUCL report "Who Are The Guilty." Link to report.
- Manoj Mitta & H.S. Phoolka. When a Tree Shook Delhi (Roli Books, 2007), ISBN 978-81-7436-598-9.
- Jarnail Singh, 'I Accuse...' (Penguin Books India, 2009), ISBN 978-0-670-08394-7
- Jyoti Grewal, 'Betrayed by the state: the anti-Sikh pogrom of 1984' (Penguin Books India, 2007), ISBN 978-0-14-306303-2
External links
- 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Homepage Archived 21 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine at Times of India
- 1984 riots case records, Government of Delhi
- Misra Commission Report
- Ahooja Committee Report
- Who Are The Guilty?
- In pictures: Massacre of the Sikhs