Anti-Sikh riots case: CBI seeks death for 3 out of 5 convicts

NEW DELHI: CBI today sought death sentence for three of the five convicts in an anti-Sikh riots case as it told a Delhi court that they were engaged in "planned communal riot" and "religious cleansing".

Arguing over quantum of sentence to be awarded to the five convicts, CBI demanded death for three of them - Balwan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal - held guilty for murder by District and Sessions Judge J R Aryan.

The court, on April 30, while acquitting Congress leader Sajjan Kumar had held Balwan Khokkar, an ex-councillor, Mahender Yadav, an ex-MLA, Kishan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal guilty of being involved in the killing of five Sikhs during the riots that had broken out after the assassination of Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.

Of the five, Balwan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal were held guilty for the offence of murder under section 302 (murder) of the IPC which entails death penalty as maximum punishment while Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokkar were convicted for the offence of rioting only.

During arguments on sentence, CBI prosecutor R S Cheema told the court, "It was a planned communal riot in which the victims were isolated. It was religious cleansing which changed the demography of the ares as none of the victims returned to the area after the riots.

"The victims were totally innocent and they had not instigated anyone. A particular community was targeted, particularly men, their houses were destroyed and burnt and even the identity of the victims destroyed by burning them," he said.