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Sajjan Kumar: Milestone conviction in deadly 1984 anti-Sikh riots Sajjan Kumar: Milestone conviction in deadly 1984 anti-Sikh riots
(35 minutes later)
A senior Congress party politician has been jailed for life in what is being seen as the most important conviction so far over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. A senior politician from India's Congress party has been jailed for life in the most significant conviction to date over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Sajjan Kumar, who was an MP at the time, was found guilty of inciting crowds to kill Sikhs.Sajjan Kumar, who was an MP at the time, was found guilty of inciting crowds to kill Sikhs.
In a scathing verdict, the Delhi high court judges said the accused evaded justice due to "political patronage".In a scathing verdict, the Delhi high court judges said the accused evaded justice due to "political patronage".
More than 3,000 Sikhs died in riots following the assassination of then PM Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards.More than 3,000 Sikhs died in riots following the assassination of then PM Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards.
They were angry at her decision to send the army into the Golden Temple - Sikhism's holiest shrine - to flush out militants earlier in the year.They were angry at her decision to send the army into the Golden Temple - Sikhism's holiest shrine - to flush out militants earlier in the year.
The killing of Mrs Gandhi, who belonged to the Congress - now India's main opposition party- saw mobs attack and murder members of the Sikh community across the country. The worst violence took place in the capital, Delhi, where more than 2,700 Sikhs are believed to have died.The killing of Mrs Gandhi, who belonged to the Congress - now India's main opposition party- saw mobs attack and murder members of the Sikh community across the country. The worst violence took place in the capital, Delhi, where more than 2,700 Sikhs are believed to have died.
For 34 years, high-profile politicians accused of involvement in the anti-Sikh riots had evaded justice - on Monday this changed with Sajjan Kumar's conviction.For 34 years, high-profile politicians accused of involvement in the anti-Sikh riots had evaded justice - on Monday this changed with Sajjan Kumar's conviction.
There are a number of cases against Kumar relating to the riots - Monday's verdict is specifically over the killing of a family of five in Delhi.There are a number of cases against Kumar relating to the riots - Monday's verdict is specifically over the killing of a family of five in Delhi.
'A little balm for survivors'
Atul Sangar, Editor, BBC Punjabi
Five male members of Jagdish Kaur's family were brutally killed 34 years ago.
On Monday, she told reporters, "It is a little balm applied after a long time to our scars. At least one high-profile accused will now go to jail."
The conviction and life imprisonment awarded to Kumar, along with jail terms awarded to five others, comes as some solace to the Sikh community, but will not act as a closure on that dark chapter.
Thousands of Sikhs, whose family members were killed by rampaging mobs in November 1984, have welcomed this judgement. However, their deep sense of anguish and hurt over the massacre and then this long fight for justice is unlikely to go away easily.
There are other cases pending in the courts, including one against former Congress minister Jagdish Tytler, who denies any hand in anti-Sikh violence.
Though more than 400 accused have been sentenced by courts in these cases, victims have repeatedly complained that adequate steps were never taken to bring high-profile Congress leaders to justice.
Kumar, 73, had been previously acquitted by a lower court for his role in the riots, but the verdict was challenged by the country's top investigative agency which said he had been involved in a conspiracy of "terrifying proportions" with the police.Kumar, 73, had been previously acquitted by a lower court for his role in the riots, but the verdict was challenged by the country's top investigative agency which said he had been involved in a conspiracy of "terrifying proportions" with the police.
Nirpreet Kaur, whose father was also burnt alive by mobs before her eyes, wept as she thanked the court for delivering justice after 34 years. Her case though is still in court. Jagdish Kaur, whose son and husband were among five family members brutally killed, described the verdict as "a little balm applied after a long time to our scars".
"I thank the judge and the whole prosecution team who brought the case to its logical conclusion. Had this conviction come earlier, I would have not suffered so much trauma," Ms Kaur told BBC Punjabi's Sarbjit Dhaliwal. "At least one high-profile accused will now go to jail," she said.
Ms Kaur said she was happy that Kumar had received a life sentence because a "death penalty would have meant he would have died in a moment, but now he will suffer". Nirpreet Kaur, another victim whose father was burnt alive by mobs before her eyes, wept as she thanked the court for delivering justice after 34 years. Her case remains in the court system.
Ms Kaur told BBC Punjabi's Sarbjit Dhaliwal she was happy that Kumar had received a life sentence because a "death penalty would have meant he would have died in a moment, but now he will suffer".
Kumar was convicted after several eyewitnesses testified against him for inciting mobs in Delhi's Sultanpuri area.Kumar was convicted after several eyewitnesses testified against him for inciting mobs in Delhi's Sultanpuri area.
One woman witness said she had seen him addressing a crowd, telling them that Sikhs had killed "his mother" - a reference to Mrs Gandhi. One witness said she had seen him addressing a crowd, telling them that Sikhs had killed "his mother" - a reference to Mrs Gandhi.
Delhi high court Judges S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel found Kumar guilty of "criminal conspiracy, promoting enmity and acts against communal harmony" and ordered him not to leave the city and surrender by 31 December.Delhi high court Judges S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel found Kumar guilty of "criminal conspiracy, promoting enmity and acts against communal harmony" and ordered him not to leave the city and surrender by 31 December.
"In the summer of 1947, many people were massacred during the Partition of India. Thirty seven years later, Delhi witnessed a similar tragedy... The accused enjoyed political patronage and escaped trial," the judges said."In the summer of 1947, many people were massacred during the Partition of India. Thirty seven years later, Delhi witnessed a similar tragedy... The accused enjoyed political patronage and escaped trial," the judges said.
Following the verdict, Sajjan Kumar, Delhi high court and #1984SikhGenocide were trending on Twitter in India with thousands of people tweeting about the case.Following the verdict, Sajjan Kumar, Delhi high court and #1984SikhGenocide were trending on Twitter in India with thousands of people tweeting about the case.
Apart from Kumar, several other high-profile Congress politicians are accused of involvement in the violence.Apart from Kumar, several other high-profile Congress politicians are accused of involvement in the violence.
Among them is Kamal Nath, who took oath as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh state on Monday. Jagdish Tytler, who was the minister of state for overseas Indian affairs at the time, is also one of the main accused in a number of cases. Among them is Kamal Nath, who was sworn in as the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh state on Monday. Jagdish Tytler, who was the minister of state for overseas Indian affairs at the time, is also one of the main accused in a number of cases. Both deny any involvement.
Sikhs are a religious minority in India and at 21 million, they make up 1.72% of the population. Sizeable numbers of Sikhs also live in Canada, UK, USA and Australia. Sikhs are a religious minority in India and at 21 million, they make up close to 2% of the population. There are significant Sikh communities in Canada, the UK, US and Australia.
'A little balm for survivors'
Atul Sangar, Editor, BBC Punjabi
The conviction and life imprisonment awarded to Kumar, along with jail terms awarded to five others, comes as some solace to the Sikh community, but will not act as a closure on that dark chapter.
Thousands of Sikhs, whose family members were killed by rampaging mobs in November 1984, have welcomed this judgement. However, their deep sense of anguish and hurt over the massacre and then this long fight for justice is unlikely to go away easily.
There are other cases pending in the courts, including one against former Congress minister Jagdish Tytler, who denies any hand in anti-Sikh violence.
Though more than 400 accused have been sentenced by courts in these cases, victims have repeatedly complained that adequate steps were never taken to bring high-profile Congress leaders to justice.