1984 Anit-Sikh Riots : Sajjan Kumar Surrenders In Delhi Court

Sajjan Kumar, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by Delhi High Court for his involvement in 1984 anti-sikh riots, has surrendered in a Delhi Court today. 

On his surrender before the Metropolitan Magistrate Aditi Garg at Karkardooma, he was sent to Mandoli jail

On December 17, the Delhi High Court had reversed his acquittal by trial court in 2013 and held him guilty for conspiracy and abetment for the killings of five sikhs in the riots which took place in the aftermath of assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi on October 31.

Later, he had filed an application seeking extension of time till January 31 to surrender "to be able to settle family affairs, matters of inheritance and meet senior advocates to prepare appeal against his sentence. However, the Court dismissed the application.

In the verdict, the High Court observed that the riots answered the description of 'crimes against humanity' as the mass killings were "engineered by political actors with the assistance of the law enforcement agencies".

The Court also found that there were repeated efforts by Delhi police to manipulate the statements of witnesses, especially the testimony of main eyewitness Jadgish Kaur, to cover up the involvement of Sajjan Kumar. "The police indeed turned a blind eye and blatantly abetted the crimes committed by the rioting mob. The investigation by the local police was a farce.The State machinery came to a complete standstill in those two or three days when the rioting mobs took to the streets and indulged in acts of violence and killings, and setting properties on fire",it said.