1984 riots: Witnesses not examined due to lawyers strike

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court today could not record the statements of prosecution witnesses in a 1984 anti- Sikh riots case in which Congress leader Sajjan Kumar is facing trial along with others due to lawyers strike.

District judge Kamlesh Kumar, who had fixed the case for today for recording of evidence, deferred the matter as the advocates in the six district courts are observing indefinite strike protesting the delay in passing of an amended bill in Parliament for enhancing pecuniary jurisdiction of the trial courts here.

Three prosecution witnesses, who were summoned for today, would now be examined on September 2.

Sajjan Kumar, Brahmanand Gupta and Ved Prakash are facing trial on charges of murder and rioting in the case of killing of Surjit Singh in Sultanpuri area of West Delhi.

The court had in July 2010 framed charges, including murder and rioting, against Kumar, Gupta, Peeriya, Khushal Singh and Ved Prakash in connection with Surjit's killing in the riots which had occurred in the aftermath of the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.

Accused Khushal Singh and Peeriya have since died.

The trial court had also framed charges for the offence of spreading enmity between two communities against the accused in the case.