New Delhi, India (February 11, 2014): It is learnt that the Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung has approved the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s decision to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom within a time frame of one year.
The modalities of the SIT probe had been approved by the Delhi Cabinet last week. “The Lt. Governor has given his nod to it (SIT probe),” chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said after meeting L-G Najeeb Jung on Monday (Feb. 10).
As per information the SIT will investigate the allegations of destruction of evidence by the police and will re-open FIRs. It will also probe why 241 First Information Reports, out of a total 578 FIRs registered in the 1984 violence, were reportedly closed by the police. It will also inquire into allegations of evidence being ignored by the police and will expedite the process in cases where chargesheets were not filed despite sufficient evidence.
“The actual numbers of deaths were way higher than the official records. The official death toll of the violence in Delhi was 2,733. FIRs were registered in 578 cases, of which 241 cases were either closed or no action was taken. There are serious allegations of police destroying and tampering with evidence,” education minister Manish Sisodia reportedly said.
The minister said besides reopening of FIRs, the SIT would also inquire into allegations of destruction of evidence by the police, and that all those cases which were closed or shown untraced would be re-opened, re-investigated and if the need arises fresh FIRs would be registered.
He said the investigating team would not include any official from the Delhi police since their role in the massacre is under scanner.