1984 Delhi Sikh Genocide - Statements

Statement submitted before the Nanavati Commission

Witness No. 102

Name : Bhim Singh

Age :

Occupation : Retired Inspector, Delhi Police

Address : Sec-B, Pocket-5, Flat No.4142, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi

On SA

I was SHO Police Station Seelampur in October-November, 1984. In third week of November, 1984 I was transferred to Shahdara Police Station. The report at pages 1 to 7 in file exhibit No.W87/15 was prepared by me. It was prepared after I was transferred to Shahdara Police Station. Report dated 14.2.85 that was also prepared by me (pages 13 to 18).

Cross examination by H.S. Phoolka, Senior Advocate on behalf of November '84 Carnage Justice Committee

Pages 19 to 22 contains details of persons arrested between 30.10.84 to 4.11.84, force available, force deployed, additional force and cases registered at the Seelampur Police Station. 20 deaths of Sikhs were reported at the Police Station during that period. According to my recollection the riotous incidents have taken place only on 1.11.84 but whatever was reported to me later on was also included in the FIRs.

Only 3 deaths were reported to us in the Police Station on 1.11.84. We had recovered only three dead bodies. It is written on page 22 of the file that 10 deaths had taken place and five dead bodies were recovered. That is correct. I do not know if more than 35 statements were recorded under section 161 Cr.P.C. during the investigation of FIR No.340 and that the number of deaths investigated were about 60.

I am shown the list of 35 persons who are stated to have given statements during the investigation. I cannot say whether the list is correct or not (the list is taken on record and marked as Exhibit No.W102/1). It is true that except one Ram Singh, a Sikh person, no other persons were arrested either on 1st or 2nd, November, 84. It is stated in the FIR that Ram Singh had run away from the place. That FIR was lodged by SI Rajesh Kaushik. It was recorded at 4.25 pm. I say that it is not correct that Ram Singh had run away and that he was not arrested from the spot.

In fact I was there and I had brought him to the Police Station along with his family members. In Daily Diary No.17-A at page 53 it is stated that SI Rajesh Kaushik had arrested Ram Singh and put him in Shahdara lock up. According to me it is correct. I further say that it only means that Ram Singh was formally arrested in case FIR No.341/84 and at that time as there was no lock up in Seelampur Police Station he was put up in lock up of Police Station Shahdara.

At about 4.25 pm, I was in the area therefore I cannot say where Ram Singh was. As far as I remember I had taken Ram Singh, Sujan Singh and their family members to the Police Station at about 2.00 pm. On 1.11.84 the rioting incidents had taken place at about 5 or 6 places. As there was no complainant no separate FIRs were registered in respect of each of these incidents. After reaching the places of incidents, I had escorted the victims to safer places.

I had not made further inquiries from them as it was not possible considering the circumstances prevailing at that time. I had seen roaming mobs at many places. There were mobs at 5 or 6 places as referred to above. Most of the persons in the mobs were not seen by me earlier even though I was in that area for about two and half years and that I had a very good rapport in that area.

I had made many demands for additional force. I was informing my superiors about the situation prevailing in my area. Senior officers, like, ACP and DCP had also visited my area. The DCP had visited my area twice. It is incorrect to say that the DCP had visited the area as the information was received by me that Sikhs were defending themselves in those areas. It is true that in the New Seelampur area when DCP had arrived there, Ram Singh was indulging in the acts of firing. He was on the terrace of his house.

Even though I was telling him not to go on firing, he had resorted to firing four or five times in my presence. It is not correct to say that I have received instructions from my higher officers that only one complaint should be recorded in respect of the incidents which had taken place during the day. It is true that in my report at page 5 it is stated that all the three SHOs of Shahdara sub-division were summoned by the ACP Shahdara and they were told to register only one offence in respect of the disturbances of the day.

No case was registered on 2.11.84. There was a relief camp at Gurdwara Nanaksar. There were about 100 to 200 persons of my area in the Nanaksar Gurdwara Relief camp. I had escorted about 800 to 900 Sikh persons to Shahdara Relief Camp. I cannot say on which dates the relief camps were started. I had started sending persons to Nanaksar Relief camp from 1.11.84 itself. The persons were taken to Shahdara Relief Camp from 3.11.84 and thereafter.

Army had not opened fire in my area. I had not noticed any major incident in my area after 1.11.84, but if some incident had taken place then it must have been so recorded and action must have been taken on that information.

I had resorted to firing on 3rd and 4th November, 1984 to prevent persons from interfering in our work of rescuing people. As the crowd were nearby, apprehending that they may prevent us from rescuing people, I had resorted to firing. The mobs which I had seen on 1.11.84 consisted of about 500 to 4000 persons. They were highly agitated and I had not seen such agitated mobs earlier.

The persons in the mob did carry sticks, rods, stones etc. I had not noticed them carrying inflammable substances like kerosene, Petrol etc. I had seen about 20 houses and shops burnt by the riotous mob. I did not get it investigated as to how those houses were burnt as there was no time to do so. I have no knowledge about the entry made at 11.15 pm on 31.10.84 in the log book exhibit No.87/15 (page 15). My call sign was E-14.

I had not arrested any one on 1.11.84 as people used to run away and I have no time to chase and arrest them, as we were also running about and we were tired. The force was also limited. The mob had also attacked the Police Station. No offence was registered in respect of the attack on the Police Station but there is an entry made in the log book at page 54.

It is true that no one else except Ram Singh had fired shots. I had not noticed any other Sikh sitting on the terrace of his house and resorting to firing. It is true that at 3.52 pm a message was sent from the Police Station to me on wireless that near Sunehari Masjid, F Block, one Sardar was sitting on his roof and had firearms with him.

This message was not received by me. It is so stated in the entry made at page no.54. According to my knowledge Ram Singh was residing in G-Block. I do not know if Delhi Administration had made an inquiry and had reported that about 91 deaths had taken place in the area of Seelampur Police Station during anti-Sikh riots in October-November, 1984.

Read over and found correct.

(Bhim Singh) (G.T. Nanavati)

19th November, 2001

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