Sikhs seek retrial of ’84 Reasi riots accused
Tribune News Service
Jammu, January 12
Welcoming the order of the Supreme Court for the reinvestigation into the anti-Sikh riots in 1984 after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, a Sikh organisation has demanded the retrial of the accused involved in the killing of 14 persons in Reasi district.
Addressing a press conference, Sudershan Singh Wazir, chairman, Sikh United Front, said about 14 persons were killed by mobs in Reasi during the 1984 riots but the successive governments had ignored repeated pleas of reinvestigation.
“We hail the Supreme Court order of a reinvestigation into 186 cases of Sikh massacre of 1984 by a special investigation team (SIT) headed by a retired judge of the High Court. This judgment has reaffirmed the faith of the common manin the judicial system of the country but victims of riots in Reasi have not got justice as J&K has made no effort,” Wazir added.
Wazir alleged that the government had conducted a shoddy investigation and the culprits went scot-free. “The state government should come clean on the issue and in the interest of justice must approach the appropriate court for a retrial,” the front has demanded.
State Shiromani Akali Dal president Dayal Singh Wazir warned of an agitation if culprits behind anti-Sikh riots in J&K are not booked and cases are not opened again to provide justice to victim families.
Surinder Singh Kala, chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Motor Transport Companies Association, said the minorities in India needed reassurance and protection from onslaught of those whoare bent upon subverting the secular character of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, Shiromani Youth Akali Dal president Mohinder Singh said Sikhs had suffered a lot at the hands of various governments since the Partition.
“The Sikhs have faced various massacres including that in Talwara (1984), Jammu (1989) and then in Chittisingpura and Mehjoor Nagar (Kashmir) but the government has always been a mute spectator,” Mohinder Singh added.
