Centre reopens 28 anti-Sikh riot cases

New Delhi, August 29

Ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, the Centre has decided to reopen 28 cases relating to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and all these cases will be probed by a special investigation team (SIT).

The decision has been taken after examining various aspects of the cases, which were either closed or did not proceed further due to lack of evidence.

The SIT, set up by the Home Ministry to re-investigate appropriately serious criminal cases filed in the national capital relating to the 1984 riots, has identified 28 more cases for further investigation, an official order said. With this, the total number of cases to be re-investigated by the SIT has gone up to 77.

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Of the 650 cases registered in connection with the riots in Delhi, 49 cases were earlier identified for re-investigation by SIT on July 29.

A total of 3,325 people were killed in the 1984 riots in which Delhi alone accounted for 2,733 deaths, while the rest occurred in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states. The Delhi Police had closed 241 cases citing lack of evidence.

Justice Nanavati Commission had recommended reopening of only four of them but the BJP wanted re-investigation of all the cases. The CBI had reopened and re-investigated only four cases.

In two of them, the probe agency had filed a chargesheet and in one, five persons, including a former MLA, were convicted. The SIT was set up on February 12, 2015 following a recommendation by the Home Ministry-appointed Justice (retired) GP Mathur committee. 

The three-member SIT has two Inspector General-rank officers and a judicial officer.

On December 10, 2014, the Narendra Modi government had announced an additional  Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each of those killed in the riots, triggered by the assassination of then PM Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. — PTI