1984: INDIRAGANDHI’S ASSASSINATION AND ANTI-SIKH RIOTS ... · Indira Gandhi (Left) Rahul Gandhi...
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(Top) President Giani Zail Singh (left) with Rajiv Gandhi paying homage to slain prime minister Indira Gandhi (Left) Rahul Gandhi with the mortal remains of his grandmother Indira Gandhi (Below) An anxious crowd waiting for news on the health of Indira Gandhi Members of the Gandhi family, including Rajiv, Priyanka and Sonia, beside the funeral pyre at Shakti Sthal Army columns deployed close to Gurudwara Rakab Ganj, New Delhi Rioting crowds in the wake of the assasination in the national capital A view of the vandalised shops in Connaught Place in Delhi, following the riots Some of those affected by the rioting in Delhi Thousands line up on Delhi’s streets to pay their homage to the deceased prime minister 1984: INDIRA GANDHI’S ASSASSINATION AND ANTI-SIKH RIOTS When rioters ran freely on Delhi roads 30 years ago On the morning of October 31, 1984, two Sikh bodyguards shot down Indira Gandhi, prime minister at that time, at point blank range at her residence in New Delhi. Before she was officially pronounced dead around 5 p.m., attacks had begun on the Sikh community in many parts of the country. The next day, systematic attacks were launched and Delhi’s Trilokpuri, which has been the scene of communal violence in the past few days, faced the brunt of it. At least 2,733 people died during the violence, which lasted for five days. Business Standard looks back at events that took place 30 years ago. Prime Minister Oct 31, Indira Gandhi 1984 assassinated on Anti-Sikh violence Nov 5, continued till 1984 Persons killed in Delhi 2,146 Persons killed outside Delhi 586 (Bokaro, Kanpur) Total persons killed 2,732 # Number of cases CBI registered 13 Number of chargesheets filed 6 Cases closed 7 Acquittal in cases 1 * Conviction in cases 1 Trial pending in cases 3 #R K Ahuja committee however said the number of deaths in Delhi alone were 2,733. * Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was among those acquitted in the case. The CBI has filed appeal against it. Congress leader Jagdish Tytler was absolved of charges due to lack of evidence. COMMISSIONS TO PROBE DEATH OF INDIRA GANDHI Justice Thakkar Commissionwas appointed soon after the death of Gandhi to probe the security lapses. It submitted a report on Feb 27, 1986. The report pointed to a “needle of suspicion” at Gandhi’s close aide, R K Dhawan. However, Rajiv Gandhi dismissed the charges, reinducting him in the government. Later, he was made member of the Rajya Sabha. TO PROBE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF RIOTS Justice Ranganath Mishra Commissionwas appointed on April 26, 1985. It submitted a report on August 22, 1986. Findings: ! The violence was a spontaneous reaction ! Though it ruled out a role of the Congress party, it pointed to a part played by some local leaders. ! It said the police was indifferent and, in some cases, had connived with rioters ! It blamed the police commi- ssioner and Lt. Governor for the delay in calling the army when 5,000 men were available. On the recommendations of the Mishra commission, three committees were appointed on Feb 23, 1987 One of the committees indicted 72 police officers. Since 13 had retired and three died, action could not be take action against them; 45 were exonerated, two were censured and one was warned. In one case, pension was reduced. The fate of the remaining seven could not be ascertained for this news report. Findings of another committee: The police deliberately didn’t record the names of the accused and the victims. In most cases (total 403), the police investigation was “absolutely casual, perfunctionary and faulty”. As the demand for justice persisted, the central government appointed the Justice G T Nanavati Commissionon May 8, 2000. It gave a report on Feb 2, 2005. The key findings were: After Gandhi’s assassination, systematic attacks were carried out against Sikhs, without fear of the police. Mobs came on DTC buses and were taken to particular locations. There was no evidence suggesting Rajiv Gandhi or other high-ranked Congress leaders had suggested or organised attacks on Sikhs. But it did not rule out the role of influential and powerful people. Source: Nanavati commission, media reports, CBI PHOTO: VIJAY SALUJA PHOTO: ASHOK VAHIE PHOTO: PHOTO DIVISION PHOTO: PHOTO DIVISION PHOTO: PHOTO DIVISION PHOTOS: ASHOK VAHIE BS PHOTO LOOKING BACK. <
Transcript of 1984: INDIRAGANDHI’S ASSASSINATION AND ANTI-SIKH RIOTS ... · Indira Gandhi (Left) Rahul Gandhi...
(Top) President Giani Zail Singh (left) with Rajiv Gandhi paying homage to slain prime ministerIndira Gandhi
(Left) Rahul Gandhi with the mortal remains of hisgrandmother Indira Gandhi
(Below) An anxious crowd waiting for news on thehealth of Indira Gandhi
Members of the Gandhi family, including Rajiv, Priyanka and Sonia, beside the funeral pyre at Shakti Sthal
Army columnsdeployedclose to GurudwaraRakab Ganj, New Delhi
Rioting crowds in the wake of the assasination in the national capital A view of the vandalised shops in Connaught Place in Delhi, following the riots
Some of those affected by the rioting in Delhi
Thousands line up on Delhi’s streets to pay their homage to the deceased prime minister
1984: INDIRA GANDHI’S ASSASSINATION AND ANTI-SIKH RIOTS
When rioters ranfreely on Delhi roads30 years ago On the morning of October 31, 1984, two Sikh bodyguards shot down Indira Gandhi, prime minister at that time,at point blank range at her residence in New Delhi. Before she was officially pronounced dead around 5 p.m.,attacks had begun on the Sikh community in many parts of the country. The next day, systematic attacks were launched and Delhi’s Trilokpuri, which has been the scene of communal violence in the past few days,faced the brunt of it. At least 2,733 people died during the violence, which lasted for five days. Business Standard looks back at events that took place 30 years ago.
Prime Minister Oct31, Indira Gandhi 1984assassinated on
Anti-Sikh violence Nov5,continued till 1984
Persons killed in Delhi 2,146
Persons killed outside Delhi 586(Bokaro, Kanpur)
Total persons killed 2,732#
Number of cases CBI registered 13
Number of chargesheets filed 6
Cases closed 7
Acquittal in cases 1*
Conviction in cases 1
Trial pending in cases 3## R K Ahuja committee howeversaid the number of deaths inDelhi alone were 2,733.** Congress leader SajjanKumar was among thoseacquitted in the case.The CBI has filedappeal against it.Congress leaderJagdish Tytlerwas absolved ofcharges due tolack of evidence.
COMMISSIONS
TO PROBE DEATH OFINDIRA GANDHI
Justice ThakkarCommissionwas appointedsoon after the death of Gandhi to probe thesecurity lapses. It submitted a report on Feb 27,1986. The report pointed to a “needle ofsuspicion” at Gandhi’s close aide, R K Dhawan.However, Rajiv Gandhi dismissed the charges,reinducting him in the government. Later, hewas made member of the Rajya Sabha.
TO PROBE VARIOUS ASPECTS OFRIOTS
Justice Ranganath Mishra Commissionwasappointed on April 26, 1985. It submitted areport on August 22, 1986.
Findings: ! The violence was a spontaneous reaction! Though it ruled out a role of the Congress
party, it pointed to a part played by somelocal leaders.! It said the police was indifferent and,
in some cases, had connived withrioters ! It blamed the police commi-
ssioner and Lt. Governor for thedelay in calling the army when5,000 men were available.
On the recommendations ofthe Mishracommission, three committees were appointedon Feb 23, 1987One of the committees indicted 72 policeofficers. Since 13 had retired and three died,action could not be take action against them;45 were exonerated, two were censured andone was warned. In one case, pension wasreduced. The fate of the remaining seven couldnot be ascertained for this news report.
Findings of another committee:The police deliberately didn’t record the namesof the accused and the victims. In most cases(total 403), the police investigation was“absolutely casual, perfunctionary and faulty”.As the demand for justice persisted, the central government appointed the Justice G T Nanavati Commissionon May 8, 2000. It gave a report on Feb 2, 2005.
The key findings were:After Gandhi’s assassination, systematic attackswere carried out against Sikhs, without fear ofthe police. Mobs came on DTC buses and weretaken to particular locations. There was noevidence suggesting Rajiv Gandhi or otherhigh-ranked Congress leaders had suggested ororganised attacks on Sikhs. But it did not ruleout the role of influential and powerful people.
Source: Nanavati commission, media reports, CBI
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PHOTOS: ASHOK VAHIE BS PHOTO
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