AISSF chief held for hurling shoe at judge

NEW DELHI: A 43-year-old man was arrested today for allegedly throwing a shoe at the judge who acquitted Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case while 34 others were detained for protests outside Karkardooma courts here.

Soon after verdict was pronounced acquitting Kumar and convicting five others, All India Sikhs Students Federation president Karnail Singh Peer Mohammed allegedly threw his shoe at judge J R Aryan.

Singh, a resident of Punjab's Firozpur, was immediately taken into custody by police and later placed under arrest, a senior police official said.

A case under sections 186 (obstructing public servant from discharging duties) and 353 (assault) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered.

Karnail said he never wanted to show disrespect to the court and his intention was only to show the protest and anger of the Sikh community who had eagerly awaited justice.

"But the court by acquitting the main accused and senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar clearly showed that we could never expect justice," he said.

Thirty-four people were detained for protesting outside the court against the judgement for about half an hour from 3:30 PM to 4:00 PM.

Among those detained were Manjit Singh GK, president of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Gen Secretary of DSGMC, Ravinder Singh Khurana, Sr Vice president DSGMC and Harmit Singh Kaka Jt Secretary DSGMC.