1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: Former Congress Leader Sajjan Kumar Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Burning Father-Son Alive
New Delhi: A special judge at Rouse Avenue Court, Kaveri Baweja, has sentenced former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar to life imprisonment in connection with the Saraswati Vihar case during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The court had already convicted him on February 12 in this case.
Before the verdict, members of the Sikh community protested outside Rouse Avenue Court, demanding the death penalty for Sajjan Kumar.
This case dates back to November 1, 1984, when a mob killed Sardar Jaswant Singh and Sardar Tarun Deep Singh in Raj Nagar, West Delhi. Around 4-4:30 PM, a violent mob attacked the victims’ home with iron rods and sticks. According to complainants, Sajjan Kumar, who was then a Congress MP from Outer Delhi, led the mob.
The complaint alleges that Sajjan Kumar incited the mob to attack, after which the rioters burned Sardar Jaswant Singh and Sardar Tarun Deep Singh alive. The mob also vandalized, looted, and set fire to the victims’ house.
An FIR was registered at Saraswati Vihar police station based on an affidavit submitted before the Rangnath Mishra Commission. Sajjan Kumar was charged under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 147, 148, 149, 395, 397, 302, 307, 436, and 440.