1984 Delhi Sikh Genocide - Affidavits

Affidavit submitted before the Nanavati Commission

I, Balbir Singh S/o Late S.Sukhdayal Singh aged 46 R/o 238, Piragarhi Gaon, near Ramlila Ground, Delhi – 41, do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as under:

1. In November, 1984 I was living at 700, Nehru Kutia, Malka Ganj, Laddo Wali Gali, Delhi along with my wife, father, 2 sisters and 2 brothers.

2. I was having workshop for repair of bus and truck at 719-20 Zakhira Chowk, Amar Park, Delhi.

3. That on 31st October, 1984 I heard about the death of Indira Gandhi at 2 pm. I closed my workshop at my workshop at 4 pm and came to my residence.

4. That at that time I had cut my hair and shaved my beard and I could not be recognized as Sikh. By 6 pm group of people had assembled at various points. They were stopping Sikh coming in cars and scooters etc. and were beating them and damaging their vehicles loud shouts of mob, shouting 'Kill in Sikhs', 'Loot their houses and shop' were heard throughout the night.

5. On 1.11.84 at about 11 am I was standing alone at the end of our road. I saw a group of people had surrounded Balbir Singh alias Bira. They were hitting him with rods, lathis. One of the person was having chopper, he gave blow to Bira and part of his arm was cut. The other persons in mob encouraged him for another hit, he was crime for help and it gave more encouragement to these people. His body was cut in to pieces and then one of them brought kerosene oil and poured over his body and lighted it with match. They threw a tire on it. I was terribly shaken at this barbaric scene and even now I tremble when I recollect it.

6. I came home and asked my family members to leave home immediately. I escorted them to Bara Hindu Rao Hospital. I asked them to sit at different places in hospital ward. I came back to my house. At night I went to Hindu Rao Hospital.

7. On 2.11.84 in the afternoon I went to Subzi Mandi, Ghanta Ghar I saw that shops of Sikhs were being looted. Police in uniform with rifles was standing at many places in the area. Crowd was carrying looted items in bundles pack in their houses. Some were carrying as big items as washing machine etc. There was hardly anyone empty handed. Police men were asking the people to hurry up.

8. I came back to Hospital to spend the night on 3.11.84 military personnel came and escorted us to relief camp at Subzi Mandi. We stayed there till 8.11.84.

9. On 8.11.84 I went to our house it was completely looted. My neighbours saved it from being burnt. My workshop was looted and completely burnt.

10. I suffered a loss of Rs.60,000/- in my workshop and Rs.50,000/- for loss of household.

11. I did not receive any compensation for the loss.

12. I am entitled to the compensation.

 

 

 

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