1984 Delhi Sikh Genocide - Statements

Statement submitted before the Nanavati Commission

Witness No. 78

Name : Ved Pal Rathi

Age :

Occupation : ACP, Crime Branch

Address :

On SA

At present I am ACP, Crime Branch. In October – November '84 I was posted as SHO, Darya Ganj. On 31.10.84 I had attended a meeting convened by our DCP Amod Kanth at about 10.00 am. We were told to take care to see that the mob did not gather within the area of respective police station and that no untoward incident takes place. While I was still in the meeting I had received message from my Duty Officer that a crowd had gathered near Press area to know about the news.

As a big crowd had gathered there and I apprehended that untoward incident may take place I ordered lathi charge to disperse the crowd. During the course of the day I received various messages regarding collection of crowd. I and my staff had gone there and dispersed the crowd. I had also deployed staff at strategic points. No incident of violence has taken place within my police station on 31.10.84.

On 1.11.84 I used to receive messages and I used to visit those places; either the information was found to be incorrect or necessary action was taken to disperse the crowd. At about 10.00 pm I received information that a mob had entered President Hotel. I and my staff reached that place. I was informed by Mr Balbeer Singh the owner of the hotel that the crowd had entered his hotel and looted various goods of the hotel.

On seeing us the crowd started running away but we were able to apprehend 15 persons from the spot with looted properties. With respect to that incident an offence was registered as FIR No.838. I am producing a photocopy of the said FIR (which is now taken on record and marked as Exhibit No.W78/1).

At about 5.35 pm an incident of violence had happened at Marina Store. That shop was burnt. When we reached there we were told that the mob had set fire to the shop. Therefore, we dispersed the mob. In respect of that offence an FIR was registered as FIR No.837. I am producing a copy of that FIR (which is now taken on record and marked as exhibit No.W78/2). In my area we had resorted to lathi charge to disperse the mob which were moving around.

In spite of those efforts this incidence of attack on Marina Store had taken place. So an explanation of SI, Om Prakash and staff who were posted there was called for and later on a departmental inquiry was held against them. Two persons were arrested during the course of investigation in that case. They were charge sheeted. They were acquitted by the court.

Throughout the night of 1.11.84 and 2.11.84, I had attended to the various calls and taken appropriate steps.

On 1.11.84 at about 10.30 pm shop no.11 of Ambedkar Stadium was set on fire. The fire had just started in the shop and we extinguished it. A taxi was also on fire and that was also extinguished. When we had reached that place the mob had dispersed. An offence was registered in respect of that incident as FIR No.839. I am producing the photocopy of the FIR (which is now taken on record and marked as exhibit No.W78/3).

At about 11.30 pm a crowd had gathered near Delhi Gate towards Asaf Ali Road. I had gone to that place to disperse the crowd. I had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

On 2.11.84 a crowd had gathered at Golcha Cinema at 9.00 - 9.15 am. We had reached there and dispersed the crowd by resorting to lathi charge. On that day about 10.30 am, I received an information that a crowd had collected near the shop named Naveen Chawla Electronics and it was trying to break the lock of that shop. I rushed to that place and before the crowd could break open the locks, I dispersed them.

Only one lock was found broken. The strength of the mob was about 3000 to 4000 persons. On that date about 1.30 pm on a request made by Chawla, owner of the shop I accompanied him to his shop and helped him in recovering valuable goods and cash from his shop. At about 4.30 pm a mob had collected near Gandhi Market, near Ranjit Hotel. A crowd was trying to set fire to a firewood depot. After reaching the spot we chased the crowd and dispersed it.

No untoward incident had taken place on 3.11.84 or 4.11.84 within my area.

I am shown a file (which is now given exhibit No.W78/4) it contains details regarding movement chart of ACP, Ajmer Singh who was the then ACP, Darya Ganj. I identify his signatures. I am producing a map showing the present jurisdiction of the Darya Ganj Police Station (it is taken on record and given Exhibit No. W78/5).

I am submitting my replies to the written question which were put to me by the learned counsel H.S. Phoolka, appearing for the November' 84 Carnage Justice Committee. (It is taken on record and treated as part of his evidence.)

Cross examination deferred

Read over and found correct.

(Ved Pal Rathi) (G.T. Nanavati)

9th October, 2001

---

On SA

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

In FIR No.837 (Marina Store) two persons were arrested during the course of investigation. They were charge sheeted. They were acquitted by the court. I cannot give the date on which they were acquitted as the record available does not disclose the date.

In the incident which had taken place in President Hotel, in FIR No.838, 15 persons were arrested on the spot and one person was arrested during the course of investigation. All the 16 persons were charge sheeted. All of them were acquitted by the court.

In FIR No.839 nobody was arrested and it was closed as untraced. The Daily Diary register, log book and other relevant documents were submitted before the Mittal Committee. I do not know at present where those documents are. The available staff on 31.10.84 was 2 Inspectors, 21 upper subordinates, 17 Head Constables and 112 constables. The total strength was 162 persons.

All those persons were deployed during those days. Apprehension was expressed at the meeting called by the DCP at 10.00 am on 31.10.84 that there may be attack on Sikhs and their properties. I deployed staff at strategic points and mobile vans were also patrolling the area at the strategic points on 31.10.84. These arrangements continued on the subsequent days also . Outside force was also requisitioned.

The additional force consisting of two platoons was made available to the police station. They were deployed at the press area and other strategic points. According to my memory no preventive arrest was made on 31.10.84. But on 1.11.84 some arrests were made though I cannot give exact number.

On 2.11.84 also preventive arrests were made. In all 27 persons were arrested by way of preventive action. I cannot give the exact number and details because at present the record is not available with me. I deny that nobody was arrested by way of preventive action on 31.10.84.

The Office of the DCP (Central District) is adjoining the Darya Ganj Police Station. The Hotel President is opposite the Police Station at a distance of about 170 yards. It is on Asaf Ali Road. Ambedkar Stadium is at a distance of about 150 yards from the Police Station.

Ansari Road is about 2 fulongs from the Police Station. Dayanand Marg where the Marina store is situated is about 1 furlong away from the Police Station. Golcha Cinena is on the opposite side of the road and at a distance of about one and half furlong from the Police Station.

One SI, One ASI with three constables were present on the Dayanand Road towards Ansari Market. They were present on the Ansari Road about a furlong away from Marina store. There was a picket near Delite Cinema about one furlong from Ranjit Hotel.

Read over and found correct.

(Ved Pal Rathi) (G.T. Nanavati)

10th October, 2001

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