Notable journalists penned down on what they saw about most barbaric Sikh riots (or Sikh genocide) happened in order to take revenge of Indira Gandhi’s Assassination.
Let’s take a look at a report on the account of authors who described the incidents which they faced during the of Sikh Riots time:
The days of Sikh Riots during 1 November to 4th November 1984 are unforgettable and haunting. The continued horrors of the Sikh community for several days is like a nightmare echoing across decades. After all these years of failed justice, merely remembering them or tweeting on that would not be enough to give that community a solace out of it.The hard-hitting fact the Congress led Indian government itself had committed this gruesome massacre to take the revenge of Indira Gandhi’s Assassination, and covered it up with the help officials. Disclaiming truth and rebutting eyewitnesses became the cover-up tools for burying facts into the deepest grounds. Official reports, including information from independent sources reported around 8000 deaths in the riots. It should be actually called as Sikh Genocide or Sikh Massacre, but not Sikh Riots !!
Writer and journalist, Sanjay Suri has even penned down the horrors of 1984 in his book ‘1984 – The Anti Sikh Violence and after’. Even Journalist Khushwant Singh has published a book recalling the horrors of those days. He has shared some his terrified memories of President Zail Singh telling him to live in a Hindu’s house to stay alive. Singh said that he had felt like a refugee in his own country. He felt like a jew living in Nazi Germany. There are many books published by authors and journalists describing those days of mass killings. Joseph Maliakan also shared his nightmares when he was at Trilokpuri during the murders.
During Operation Bluestar, Brahma Chellaney was the only reporter that managed to stay back in Punjab and reported the events when a media blackout was enforced. He covered the operation in June 1984.
The Delhi High Court once giving it’s verdict for a riot-related case, sadly stated, “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 clear participation of central government officials and top police officials in the riots is a chilling fact that the opportunist mob played it’s game and hit the hammer across Delhi. The statement “When a big tree falls, the earth shakes!” came out cold by Rajiv Gandhi, son of Indira Gandhi when he was sworn in as the new Prime Minister.
The investigation during November 1 to November 10 unfolded the truth that this Sikh riots were not just a sheer expression of rage and revenge, but it was a meticulously planned act of genocide executed by several government officials and groups with vested sentiments. It was not just murder; it was raping women, looting houses, burning people alive and stoning to death. The assailants were sweepers, mechanics, barbers, vegetable vendors, drivers, beggars who were bribed or influenced by money to execute their brutal acts. Leading them were Congress party leaders like Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler and HKL Bhagat. When interviewing several victims and police officers who were forced to keep mum on cases, People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) and People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) found that the sequence of events had uniformity. It proves the involvement of high-powered and influential groups. It was profoundly shocking that even Doordarshan allowed slogans like “Khoon ka badla Khoon” to be broadcasted by mourning crowds at Teen Murti.
Jagmohan Singh Khurmi, The Tribune reported that these dreadful mob attacks wouldn’t have been executed without the help of the police. He also claimed that the mob was lead by sycophant leaders like Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler and HKL Bhagat. They, in fact, opened the prisons and lockups for several days and ordered the criminals to “teach the Sikhs a lesson.” The police also acted against Sikhs who retaliated to the assailants. Some profound eye witness accounts have also been noted by investigative teams during the investigation.
With justice still being denied, a total of 587 F.I.R.s filed in Delhi, 11 got suppressed, three proceedings were withdrawn, 241 filed as untraced, 253 acquitted, and 11 got discharged. Only 25 of the total were convicted, one still in a probe with 42 pending trials.
The term ‘Anti Sikh Riots’ itself is vexed! Why call it a riot when it was a clear case of human rights violation by groups and mobs who decided to massacre the people of a specific community. It was not anti Sikh riots, but this was “Anti Sikh massacre.” And still today, the justice is being dragged because the issue is not addressed correctly. When you call it a riot, it gives an image of complete disorganization and insurgent acts. It gives you a picture of violence and chaos against the government and institutional bodies. How can you ever expect that they would be ever getting any justice if you call it a riot? It is wrong. People are still waiting for justice. Yet, the government which once ruled the center denies any involvement in the conspiracy and massacre even though bunch load of evidence points at them!
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