1984 Delhi Sikh Genocide - Affidavits

Affidavit submitted before the Misra Commission

I, Inder Singh S/o Sardar Basan Singh, aged 35 years, resident of 32/486, Tarlok Puri, Delhi, at present resident of Farash Bazar Camp.

I solemnly affirm and declare as under: -

Prior to November, 1984, I was carrying on the business of Charpay and Jute, in a shop on U.P. Border. At present, I am President of Farash Bazar Camp. During the course of last three weeks H.K.L. Bhagat has called me to his bungalow four times – first meeting took place round about 14th August, 85. Gulati who is a Councilor of that area and is living in Vivek Vihar brought his car and stated that Bhagat Sahib wanted to see me.

I and five other gentlemen from Farash Bazar Camp accompanied him to the resident of Bhagatji. Immediately on our arrival there, Bhagatji said, "I am on the job of providing you housing accomodation and about this, I have made a promise to the residents of Block 32, Trilokpuri and therefore you should make the affidavits after due consideration and should not name me at the instance of somebody."

A few days thereafter on Saturday the 24th August, 1985, Gulati Sahib with a truck load of inmates of the camp went to meet Bhagat Sahib. I also accompanied Gulati Sahib in his car. There Bhagatji told all of us that he was arranging for land for our houses and at the same time, he rang up the Home Minister. At that time, all other persons except the five, who were with him, had been sent away. The Home Minister was not available on the telephone. Bhagatji told Gulati Sahib that these five persons should meet him in the Parliament House on Monday the 26th August.

On 26th August, we five persons reached the Parliament House but Gulati Sahib had not come by then. After waiting for sometime when he did not come, the P.A. enquired from Bhagatji on the telephone outside if the inmates of Farash Bazar Camp had been given time for interview. On getting a reply from inside we were called in. Bhagatji in my presence rang up and having some talk in English told me that the Home Minister had gone on tour and that we should meet him on 29th .

Next day, Gulati Sahib called me at his residence. Makhan Singh, a Congress worker, who was President of Trilokpuri, was also there. He told me that we will be getting the houses and so 25 persons should submit affidavits in the Court that in the November, 1984 riots, no Congress worker had participated in the carnage of Sikhs. I was stunned to hear all this and on coming back to Farash Bazar Camp, had consultation with other as to how the provision of houses for us had any connection with the dictated affidavits. All were unanimous in their decision that they will not make any misstatement.

On 29th August, we five persons, reached the Parliament House at 3 pm, Bhagatji met us. He seemed to be a little upset. I our presence, he had a talk on the telephone with the Home Minister, in English and handed over one letter to his P.A. and told him that it should be sent to the Home Minister. We were told to go away and further that we will be getting the houses. During the course of four meetings with Bhagatji I was accompanied by Bhura Singh of 32/96, Trilokpuri, Babu Singh Dukhia, Jhuggi 32,33, Sohan Singh of Dakhshan Puri and Makhan Singh of 32/481, Trilokpuri.

We have not got any house as yet. What happened with us during the November riots is that on 1-11-84, at about 10 in the morning I was sitting in my house. Great noise was heard outside. Coming outside, I saw Ram Paul Saroj standing with 4 / 5 persons. Ram Paul Saroj told me that the Gurdwara of the 36 Block had been burnt and the mob was advancing towards this side.

I ran and told as many Sikhs as possible, about this and reached close to the Gurdwara because of the suspicion that the mob would burn the Gurdwara. Near the Gurdwara was standing Duli Chand, Congress worker. He told me no worry and that they would protect the Gurdwara. I could not, however believe him and so some Sikhs stood there. By this time, crowd assembled opposite the Masjid. Within minutes, stones and bottles were hurled on us. We also retaliated. In the meantime, 3 / 4 policemen arrived and told us to go back to our houses. Nothing was, however, said by them to the mob.

When we told the police that we were in our area and the mob from outside should be asked to return, Hawaldar Rajbir Singh opened fire in the air and again threatened us that if we did not retreat to our houses, they will fire at us.

Out of fear, we returned to our houses. No sooner did we reach our homes, that the mob surrounded our houses and no Sikh could come out. First of all, the mob looted our Gurdwara after showing disrespect to the Holy Volume of Guru Granth Sahib, the same was burnt and then the Gurdwara was set on fire.

Somehow or other, I went out from the backside of my house and hid myself behind a wall behind the Gurdwara where the mob could not notice me, due to darkness. From there I saw that Ram Paul Saroj was leading the mob and pointing out the houses of Sikhs and was getting them killed. Amongst the killers the prominent were Kishori, Rashid and Duli Chand.

This killing and looting continued throughout the night.

Early in the morning, I came to the Gurdwara and saw that the entire Gurdwara had been burnt and two dead bodies were lying in front thereof. One of the dead bodies was that of Darshan Singh Granthi and the second one of his maternal uncle. The hair of both had been tied together and one volume of Holy Granth Sahib was lying on their bodies in a burnt condition.

On seeing this I was very much terrified and immediately went to the house of a Purbia on Jamna Bank. Next day, he told me that he was afraid of me. From there I went to U.P. Border after getting my hair cut off and hid myself in a godown of a Transport Company there. They were a bit known to me because my shop was near to them. From there I came to Farash Bazar Camp on the 4th November.

Back to Affidavits list

Guide To Discover Sikhism |   Guide To Becoming A Pure Sikh|   Guide To Carrying Out Nitnem