1984 Delhi Sikh Genocide - Affidavits

Affidavit submitted before the Nanavati Commission

I, Gurmeet Singh S/o S. Mohan Singh, R/o H.No.H-579, Phase-I, Mohali, Tehsil Mohali, Distt. Ropar, do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as under: -

1. That during October/ November '84, I was residing at H.No.8-B, Vishavkarma Park, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi. I was owner of a Taxi Stand at ISBT, Kashmiri Gate, Delhi. I also worked as Taxi Driver.

2. That on 31-10-84, when I took some passengers in the taxi from ISBT to Vasant Vihar, I came to know there that vehicles of Sikhs were being burnt and Sikhs were being persecuted and killed. I was highly scared. I took my taxi to Malai Mandir, R.K. Puram, New Delhi Taxi Stand and parked the taxi there. It was about 9:00 pm by then and 7 – 8 Sikh taxi drivers were at the said Taxi Stand.

3. That when I was standing at R.K. Puram Taxi Stand, a mob of about 150 – 200 persons armed with kerosene oil, powder etc. came there and started burning the taxis parked there. In no time the said mob ran after to kill us. All of us fled from that place to save our lives and hid here & there.

4. That when it was completely dark I somehow managed to reach my house at Vishavkarma Park, Delhi-92. At Vishavkarma Park there were about 40 houses of Sikhs, all of whom belong to our "Saini" Biradari and belong to Distt. Ropar, Punjab.

5. That on 1-11-84, at about 10:00 am, a mob of about 100 persons came towards our houses to attack us. There is a Gurdwara situated near Yamuna Pushata (near our house). We, all Sikhs numbering about 100 came out our houses and assembled around the Gurdwara. We had our traditional kirpans with us. Some of us had lathis & sticks to defend themselves.

We all collectively resisted the attack of the mob and kept them at bay. Some of our men guarded the streets leading to our houses. The mob did not dare to attack us and kept standing at the distance shouting slogans. Six armed policemen were also there but they were not taking any action to stop the mob but instead they incited the mob to attack us.

6. That at about 11:00 – 11:30 am, a white colored Ambassador car stopped at Yamuna Pushta. About 150 – 200 persons riding on scooters, motorcycles and tempos were also following the car. These persons were raising anti-Sikh slogans and were carrying lathis, sariyas etc. HKL Bhagat alighted from the said Ambassador car. I know HKL Bhagat closely and personally as I had been a strong supporter of Congress (I).

Bhagat had engaged my vehicle during elections and I took rallies during the election of HKL Bhagat. On seeing, HKL Bhagat the abovesaid six policemen came towards Bhagat and saluted him. Bhagat pointed towards us and asked the policemen and the mob as to how these Sikhs have not been killed so far. He incited the mob to kill all of us (Sikhs). After saying this, HKL Bhagat went away. Some of his followers on scooter remained there and others followed Bhagat.

7. That immediately thereafter, the police came towards the Gurdwara and asked us to surrender our kirpans and ordered us to go inside otherwise the police will open fire. We did not surrender our kirpans but went inside the Gurdwara. The police then left.

8. That after some time, the mob attacked us. But all of us came out of the Gurdwara and challenged the mob. On seeing us, the mob ran away.

9. That the mob attacked continued throughout 1-11-84 and on 2-11-84 as well. But due to our vigilance & determination to defend ourselves, we repulsed all the attacks by the mob.

10. That on 3-11-84, I learnt that my uncle S. Rattan Singh and his partner were burnt alive along with their taxi No.DLT-4788 while proceeding towards Khureji, Delhi, which is situated about 3 – 4 kms. from our place. On 4-11-84, I along with some other persons went towards Khureji and in the way I saw badly burnt said taxi of my uncle. Burnt dead bodies of my uncle and his partner were still in the taxi.

11. That later on, when I went to Malai Mandir, R.K. Puram, New Delhi Taxi Stand, I found that all four taxis including my taxi No. DLT-4118 had been burnt to ashes. The burnt taxi shell was sold to a junk dealer for Rs.3,000/-. FIR No. 417, dated 1-11-84, was filed with the Police Station R.K. Puram by S. Balbir Singh, owner of the Taxi Stand who belonged to my village.

12. That after the riots our family sold our valuable house for peanuts and moved to village. Later on, we moved to Mohali.

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