Ex-cop defends Sajjan Kumar in 1984 riot case

A former Delhi police constable, deposing as a defence witness in a 1984 anti-Sikh riot case involving former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, today told a Delhi court that he was on duty during those tumultuous days and he did not come across any report of any killing or rioting.

A former Delhi police constable, deposing as a defence witness in a 1984 anti-Sikh riot case involving former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, on Thursday told a Delhi court that he was on duty during those tumultuous days and he did not come across any report of any killing or rioting.

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Sajjan Kumar, along with five others, is facing trial for allegedly instigating a mob which killed six persons in Delhi Cantonment area during the riots in the wake of the assassination of erstwhile Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

75-year-old Chajju Ram, while deposing in defence of Kumar before Additional Sessions Judge Sunita Gupta said that during October 31, 1984, and November 6, 1984, it never came to his notice that "any Sikh in the (Raj Nagar-II) locality was killed or Sikhs' houses were looted and ransacked."

"It never came to my notice that any dead body was found on the road," said Chajju Ram, claiming "he had been on duty for all the five days without a break and a wink."

Maintaining that he was posted at Palam police post during those days, Chajju Ram said he did not notice any burnt house, dead bodies or ransacked houses in the area during his
patrolling.

Countering Chajju Ram's deposition, riot victims' counsel HS Phoolka said that according to GT Nanavati Commission report, the official casualty figures shows that during the riots 341 persons were killed, while 385 houses, 110 shops and 45 vehicles were burnt in the area.