Sajjan Kumar acquittal: Sikhs protest, block highway

In protest against the acquittal of Sajjan Kumar in 1984 riots case, hundreds of members of Sikh Community on Wednesday protested in the winter capital of the state and blocked the busiest Jammu-Pathankot national highway.

In protest against the acquittal of Sajjan Kumar in 1984 riots case, hundreds of members of Sikh Community on Wednesday protested in the winter capital of the state and blocked the busiest Jammu-Pathankot national highway.

HT Image

Amid anti-government slogans, the protesters on Wednesday afternoon disrupted the normal traffic movement and blocked the Jammu-Pathankot national highway near the Digiana area on city outskirts.

The protesting Sikh members expressed resentment over the judgment and demanded death penalty for Sajjan Kumar in 1984 riot case.

The demonstrators, carrying placards and banners, burnt tyres and blocked the traffic.

Police rushed to the spot and peacefully dispersed the demonstrators following which normal traffic resumed on the highway.

The Dogra Front and the Shiv Sena also condemned the UPA government for "treachery and injustice" with the Sikh community. Under the leadership of Dogra Front president Ashok Gupta, a procession was taken out in Jammu city calling it a Black Day in the riots case and holding UPA government responsible for bringing injustice to the community.

Addressing the procession, Gupta said when the report of the Nanavati Commission was presented, the Delhi government filed a case in the court against six people, including Sajjan Kumar, for their alleged involvement in the killing of 35 Sikhs.

Gupta alleged various commissions and committees that probed the 1984 riots were influenced by Congress leaders and its workers who had incited and helped mobs in attacking Sikhs.

Gupta added though the Prime Minister had expressed regret in Parliament over the riots, he never took any action. "Singh belongs to the community which was targeted. For him to just call it a tragedy is not enough,"