A Right to Information query has revealed that so far only 27 people have been convicted till September this year for their alleged involvement in seven cases out of total 255 cases lodged with police in connection with 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi. Another 591 accused listed in 121 cases have been acquitted. Besides, four accused are still facing trial.
The RTI information was sought by a Delhi-based activist Gopal Prasad who had filed a query with the anti-riots cell of Delhi Police. This cell was constituted in 1990. It was revealed that total 255 cases pertaining to 326 deceased victims were registered, in which 622 accused had been arrested.
In the seven cases mentioned, trial of one is still pending while investigation is pending in another. The case in which investigation is pending was registered at the Nangloi police station and has been transferred to CBI following the direction of Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
The NDA Government has announced to enhance compensation for 1984 anti-sikh riot victims from Rs3.5 lakh to Rs5 lakh each to the next of kin of the riot 3,325 victims. This is a substantial hike to the compensation announced by former PM Manmohan Singh in 2006. The UPA Government had announced a package of Rs717 crore which included monetary compensation of Rs3.5 lakh to each killed in the riots besides financial assistance to injured and those who had lost their property. Out of this only Rs517 crore had been spent and the remaining Rs200 crore could not be distributed because of dispute over claimants.