SIT reopens 22 Sikh riot cases after three decades

NEW DELHI: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) — set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs ( MHA) to examine the 1984 Sikh riots cases — has reopened 22 cases in the first batch, seeking response from the victims and witnesses.

SIT also issued advertisements in poll-bound Punjab asking people to come forward to provide information that may help them in reinvestigation. The move — ahead of Punjab elections — may give jitters in Delhi as the SIT plans to submit an ‘interim’ report before the MHA in the first week of August when it plans to re-open more cases.

According to officials familiar with the developments, the SIT is examining 267 cases that were registered by Delhi police during the riots but remained ‘untraced’.



The first set of 22 cases that were taken up by the SIT relates to murders and arson. These cases were identified by the team of investigators after examining 70 FIRs. The other cases according to the SIT, relates to minor offences but are still being examined. "We also plan to hold public meetings asking people connected to come forward and provide information," said an official.

The riots were triggered after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This led to mass killings of nearly 3,000 people. The worst affected was Delhi where more than 2,500 people were murdered. Delhi police registered 650 cases out of which 272 were closed. Later, five cases were re-opened in 2006-07.