Thaindian News

New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) A Delhi court Wednesday started recording statements of six people accused in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar has also been booked.

Additional Sessions Judge Sunita Gupta recorded the statement of former councillor Balwan Khokhar, one of the six accused. He said he was not present at the spot where a mob killed five Sikhs in Delhi Cantonment Nov 1, 1984.

Balwan Khokhar, who was asked several questions by the judge, gave very short answers.

After recording his statement in an hour-long hearing, the court decided to continue the hearing Thursday.

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the accused instigated a mob in Delhi Cantonment to kill Sikhs following the assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards at her 1, Akbar Road residence in New Delhi Oct 31, 1984.

The CBI has so far examined 16 witnesses in the case. The prosecution completed tendering its evidence June 9. Three witnesses deposed against Sajjan Kumar and identified him in the court.

Besides Balwan Khokhar and Sajjan Kumar, the other accused in the case are — Krishan Khokhar, Mahender Yadav, Captain Bhagmal and Girdhari Lal.

The court May 28 last year, framed charges against all the six accused under penal provisions relating to murder, dacoity, conspiracy, promoting enmity between two communities, mischief by fire or explosives, and house trespass.

Charges under provisions for abetment were also framed against Sajjan Kumar.

During the 1984 communal riots, hundreds of Sikh community members were massacred in Delhi and other cities in a backlash against the community after Indira Gandhi’s assassination.