Death penalty awarded in 1984 riots case; life term to another

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 20

A Delhi court on Tuesday awarded death penalty to convict Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the first capital punishment in the case. 

Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey also awarded life term to co-convict Naresh Sherawat in the case.

The court had last week held Naresh Sherawat and Yashpal Singh guilty of killing Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh in Mahipalpur area of south Delhi on November 1, 1984 during the riots.

The court today announced death sentence for Yashpal and life imprisonment for Naresh.

The convictions followed testimonials of Hardev’s brothers Kuldeep Singh and Sangat Singh who had left Delhi with their family in 1985 and are now settled in a Jalandhar village.

Both convicts knew the deceased. Yashpal Singh was a college colleague of Hardev, while Naresh Sherawat was a regular customer at the grocery shop Kuldeep Singh and his family ran.

The family of Hardev Singh now also wants Congress leader JP Singh to face fresh trial.

JP Singh is accused of leading the mob of which Yashpal and Naresh were part. JP Singh was acquitted earlier and the state never appealed against his acquittal.

The Delhi Police had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. However, a special investigation team (SIT) on the riots reopened the case.

Sikh leaders welcome judgement

Sikh leaders cutting across party lines have welcomed the decision of a court to award death penalty to one of the convicts in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, and vowed to continue their fight till each and every victim gets justice.

A Delhi court on Tuesday awarded death penalty to convict Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the first capital punishment in the case. 

Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey also awarded life term to co-convict Naresh Sherawat in the case.

Proceedings were held inside the Tihar Jail by Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey due to security concerns as one of the convicts, Yashpal, was attacked on the Patiala House District courts premises on November 15, the last date of hearing.

The court directed that the complete original case file be submitted to the Delhi High Court for confirmation of the death penalty. 

As per the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the death penalty cannot be executed unless confirmed by the High Court.

The convicts have also been awarded varying jail terms and fines for offences including attempt to murder, dacoity and attacking victims by dangerous weapons.

The court spared convict Naresh the gallows while taking note of his medical condition and his lawyer's arguments seeking leniency in the quantum of sentence.

Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said they will challenge the life sentence of Sherawat and ensure that even he gets "hanged for his crimes".

"We are satisfied with the judgement but we will keep on fighting and challenge the life sentence of one accused and ensure that even he gets hanged for his crimes," he told PTI.

He also said the judgement has given witnesses a very big boost and after 34 years they finally got justice.

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief and Akali Dal leader Manjit Singh G K said the judgement will encourage other victims to come forward.

"Other culprits who were hiding behind the Z plus security would be nailed down," he said.

Sardar R P Singh, National Secretary of BJP, welcomed the decision and urged the apex court to immediately notify the name of third member of the Special Investigation Team formed to monitor further probe into anti-Sikh riots cases of 1984 mainly in Delhi and other states.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader HS Phoolka said it was a great judgement and now the Sikh leaders are quite hopeful that in other cases also the victims would get justice.

A Sikh survivor called the judgement "a start", saying the fight will continue till they get "complete justice" and bring all perpetuators to justice.

The Tuesday's verdict was pronounced in the Tihar Jail due to security concerns, and attack on one of the convicts on November 15 in the premises of Patiala House Courts moments after a court reserved its order on the quantum of punishment to be awarded to the accused. — With PTI inputs