1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: Kanpur Victims File Fresh Plea In SC [Read Petition]

Yet another petition seeking justice for victims in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots has been filed in the Supreme Court.

The petition was filed by victims from Kanpur against the Uttar Pradesh government alleging that despite the lapse of 33 years, no constructive action was taken by the UP police to provide justice, rehabilitate or compensation to the riot victims.

Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Prasoon Kumar submitted that no action was taken to prosecute or punish the accused involved in it.

"It is an irony of fact that in the city of Kanpur, in the knowledge of petitioners, 127 persons belonging to the Sikh community were brutally murdered/ burnt to death in different police station areas, however, none of the police stations is even ready to acknowledge their deaths," the petition filed by Manjit Singh GK stated.

A bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice AM Khanwilkar tagged the fresh plea with another similar petition and posted the matter for April 24.

On March 24, this bench had decided to examine 199 cases that were closed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) 32 years ago in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

While hearing the petition filed by the Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee member S Gurlad Singh Kahlon, the court had also directed the Home Ministry to place on record files pertaining to these cases for examination.
According to the Home Ministry, a total of 293 cases were taken up by SIT, out of which 199 cases were closed after scrutiny and 35 cases were taken for preliminary enquiry. Of these 35 cases, enquiry is complete in 28 cases and seven were still pending.

In addition, 59 cases were sent for further investigation.

Closure reports were filed in 42 cases and 13 are pending. Charge sheets were filed in four cases, the ministry stated.

Read the petition here.