New Delhi: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Home Ministry of India has reportedly decided to reopen 186 cases related to November 1984 genocidal violance against the Sikhs. Notably, Sikhs were subjected to genocidal violance during November 1984 throughout the Indian subcontinent after the execution of Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, on October 31, 1984.
As per media reports, the SIT is likely to reopen 186 cases in Delhi and other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
The SIT was formed by the BJP government in February 2015 on the recommendations of a committee chaired by former Supreme Court of India judge Justice (Retd) G P Mathur. The SIT is twelfth such committee/panel that is asked to hold probe into the Sikh Genocide 1984.
A Sikh man burnt alive by a mob in the November 1984 genocide
As the justice remains denied to the victims of the genocide and the impunity prevails high, the effectiveness of the SIT remains under question.
According to Indian government’s own reports as many as 2733 Sikhs were reduced to ashes in Delhi alone. The Delhi police had registered 587 cases in this regards, of which 241 cases were later closed. Four such cases were re-opened in 2006 and one in 2013, which led to 35 convictions. The remaining cases stay closed.
Earlier this month, there were reports that the SIT has decided to re-probe 72 cases that were closed by the Delhi police (read more).
As the elections are inching close in Sikh majority state of Punjab, the issue of SIT’s decision to re-probe the cases is likely to gain political significance.
Notably, the SIT was appointed with initial term of six months that was later extended by the BJP led Central government.
Aam Aadmi Party chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, who had initially proposed the formation of SIT, recently termed the SIT formed by the BJP government as a mere eyewash (read more).