1984 Delhi Sikh Genocide - Affidavits

Affidavit submitted before the Misra Commission

I, Jaswant Singh s/o S. Gokul Singh, aged 67 years, owner of Nirman Tailors, Resident of 16B, Prahlad Market, presently residing at 8, Bambari Mansion, Ramjas Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi solemnly affirm as under:-

1. That the sad news of murder of Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi on 31.10.84 came as a big shock to us and I closed my shop to condole her death.

2. That on 1.11.84 I came to my shop from the backside to enquire about the workers, who live on the back of the shop.

3. That while coming towards my shop, I found Jagdish Lal owner of Paul tent house Talking to the owner of the building, Gupta. I heard Gupta asking Jagdish Lal if there was any news who replied that so far nothing particular had happened and only two or three cars have been burnt near Bara. This gave me an apprehension of disturbances.

4. That a little while after a worker told me that Sikhs were being killed near the Chowk and Baweja's shop in our market had been set on fire.

5. That on hearing that, we phoned the fire brigade and they replied if there is a fire, extinguish it. On phoning again a little while, they said that they have no water.

6. That finding the situation going worse, I left for my house at about 11 am. Afterwards, my shop was looted and some other shops of the Sikhs in the market were set ablaze.

7. That on 3rd November, 1984, the police post incharge came for a survey in the market. A few months earlier, the same officer, Tyagi, had come for investigation when my shop had caught fire. I told him that he saved me then but did not do so now, to which he replied that he could not do anything as he had only three constables.

8. That on 5.11.84, along with Surjit Singh and Prithipal Singh went to Police Post to find out about the looted property that had been recovered. There I found 200- 250 persons were arrested in connection with riots. The Member of Parliament from the constituency.

Dharam Das Shastri was pressing the incharge of the police post to release them. On the refusal of the incharge to do so, Shastri caught him by his collar and said that he will have to release them as they were his supporters. Thereafter, I came back and do not know whether they were let off or not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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