1984 Delhi Sikh Genocide - Affidavits

Affidavit submitted before the Misra Commission

I, Mrs. Balwinder Kaur, wife of late Mr. Pritam Singh, aged 27 years, resident of J. Block 1886/1887, Jahangirpuri, Delhi, at present residing at DDA Flats B-92-Y, Jahangirpuri, do hereby solemnly affirm and state as under:

1. That my husband worked as a Mason. I have three children – two boys and a girl.

2. On 1st November, 1984, around 6 PM, about 40 or 50 people came in front of my house and asked my husband Pritam Singh to come out of the house. Because of fear we had locked the house and were on the terrace. They said that they wanted to talk to my husband. I told them that they talk to me instead of my husband. They insisted and persisted saying that my husband come out of the house to talk to them.

3. Seeing their mood I asked one or two of them to come into the house, to the terrace to talk to my husband. Before I could bolt the door after letting one or two in, three or four persons pushed and got inside the house. They told my husband to give them whatever weapons he had, My husband gave them the sword he had. About half an hour later those people came back and said that they wanted my husband's signature stating that the weapon (Sword) was his, so that they could return it to him. They had tea in the house and warned us not to sleep outside or come out during the night. Nothing i.e. no untoward incident happened during the night.

4. On 2nd November, 1984 morning around 8 AM two policemen were seen by me in my street. My husband called out to them, seeking protection. They refused to come and went away.

5. Soon after a mob of nearly 800 people filled the street. They asked my husband to cut his hair and shave his beard. I came down and pleaded with them with folded hands. I did not allow my husband to come out. The mob broke open the ventilator and set fire inside the house.

6. We tried to put out the fire but could not. The mob broke open the already half burnt door. My husband ran out of the house. As he ran out they hit him with an iron rod near the knee. He fell down. Then they pierced him with a sword on his back. The sword came out through his chest. Then they poured kerosene on him and wanted to burn him. I shouted "No" and stretched myself on my husband. They hit me with the sword and beat me with iron rod. I got wounded at the side of the head because of the iron rod and got a deep cut at my elbow and the leg. I became unconscious. When I regained my consciousness I was in Hindu Rao Hospital.

7. My children were saved by my neighbours.

8. The crowd was a mixture, containing both local people and outsiders. The first crowd of 50 people were from the area. The mob of about 800 people came walking, I do not know from where. In that crowd I recognize some persons. One is a person named Binod from 'Y' Block. With him were his brothers – Dalchand and Pappu.

9. Ten or twelve days after the riots, Binod was shouting aloud in the street at night, brandishing a knife saying that anyone who gives witness against him will be done away with. Most of the persons in the crowd seemed to be drunk.

10. I heard that the crowd had burnt my husband's body. I have received Rs.10,000/- as compensation for my husband's death. My house was burnt. The material loss I estimate is about Rs.50,000/-.

 

 

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