The wounds of the 1984 riots are still fresh in the minds of the survivors. Even after three decades, the families of the victims are haunted by memories of the carnage. The court’s order of reinvestigation against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler has, however, given them a ray of hope for justice; not only for the grieving families but also the entire Sikh community.
“Its been nearly 30 years to the incident. Justice has been delayed but we are hopeful it will not be denied. We are extremely happy with the courts decision to reinvestigate the case. We are filled with hope and want justice to be meted out speedily now,” said Jaswinder Singh, a sevak at Gurdwara Pulbangash, where the killing of three persons took place on November 1, 1984.
The deceased included one Badal Singh, whose widow lakhwinder Kaur had file the protest petition against CBI’s clean chit to Tytler.
The horrific incident shook the entire Sikh community in the area. While most of them could not even dare to step out of their houses; though they all stood witness to the gory incident.
Fifty-year old Mahesh Gulati, a local resident who witnessed the entire episode, recollects, “I came outside my house to meet my Sikh brother only to realise that in the Gurdwara next door, an ASI of Delhi Police who had also come to meet his brother was being mercilessly burnt alive. The atmosphere was very intense and extremely dangerous back then. Screams of the victims filled the atmosphere. There was chaos all around and chemicals were being thrown at the Gurdwara. The building was burnt down entirely. There were more people to kill and less to save. I am till date deeply saddened and moved by the entire episode.”
To add to it, the former president of the Pulbangash Gurdwara, Mahender Singh said, “We used to get shivers down our spine hearing of the atmosphere outside. We were in constant fear of being attacked. The courts decision has been very relieving and overwhelming for our entire community.” He also recalled how hundreds of Sikh families were forced to flee from the area leaving behind their homes to save their lives. “The crowd has changed in the area over the years but the memories continue to haunt,”
he added.