1984 Delhi Sikh Genocide - Affidavits

Affidavit submitted before the Misra Commission

I, Partap Kaur W/o Fateh Chand, aged 42 years, resident of Y-695, Nangloi, Delhi, presently residing at C-15B, Tilak Vihar, Delhi, do hereby solemnly affirm and state on oath as under: -

1. That on 31-10-84, I was on night duty. I heard that Sikhs were being killed in buses and cars. I left my duty and prepared to go to my house. Before I reached my house I went to my Sikh neighbours and informed them that they should not take out their scooters etc. That the Sikhs are being looted and killed.

2. I talked with my brother also on this subject. In reply he admonished me and said that we are all pucca Congress men and there is no cause for any alarm. My brother upon hearing news of the assassination of Indira Gandhi, had struck his head against wall in grief and had said that Pt. Nehru had helped us considerably.

3. That on 1-11-84, one man namely Amarjit who had shaved off, came and informed us that on that day there will be trouble and we should not stir out. Thereafter, at about 10:30 am about 13 / 14 men, wearing white clothes, upon cycles, motorcycles, were observed. They were shouting, "Kill the Sikhs and burn their houses after looting them, for three days we are the rulers."

4. At about 11 am, we came to know that trouble had started from the side of S. Sarup Singh's house. At about 11:45 am, my son, who is a "Mona" (shaved off), came and informed us that the house of Sarup Singh has been burnt. We went to the roof and saw that mob was collecting on all sides.

People coming from Haryana side were coming and gathering near the petrol pump. At that time, about 12:30 pm, some ten / twelve (10/12) police personnel, in uniforms, were standing at the crossing. But the police pointed mob started advancing to kill Sikhs. This beating up and commotion continued for sometime.

5. That at about 1:30 / 1:45 pm, a train came from the side of Rohtak and without any indication stopped opposite the colony. Thousands of people were seen alighting from that train. Upon seeing that about 10 / 11 persons from us reached police station Nangloi. The police personnel even after hearing everything from us did not help us. We ladies consulted each other for our course of action. We locked our houses and about 50 / 60 of us proceeded towards the houses of Mohammedans.

We saw some Sikhs had reached Gurdwara for saving it and climbed on to the roof and some people from the mob had climbed the roof of Model School. I called my aunt's (mother's sister) son Darshan Singh and asked him to inquire about the happenings. He saw that houses of Khayal Chand, Darshan Lal, Tara Chand and Nanak Chand have been put on fire.

6. Where I went in search of my relations then someone from the mob hit me with a brick and I sustained injury at my stomach. My neighbours Sita Ram told me that all were leaving and you should also have and take shelter. I hid my husband in the house of Sajjani, I and many other persons had taken shelter in the house of Mohammedans. My brother who was injured was also standing there, I informed him that I am going to the Police Station for report and perhaps there may be a way out.

I instead of going to Nangloi Police Station where the police had not recorded a report earlier, ran bare feet to Punjabi Bagh Police Station. On the way I saw about 100 / 200 persons were killing two Sikhs and one Hindu with lathis etc. Upon my intervention those people hit me also with lathis and gave 2 / 3 lathi blows. I saw another incident, that a Sikh after being killed had been thrown near the nallah, DTC depot Nangloi.

7. I reached Punjabi Bagh Police Station and it was getting desk, about 150 / 200 policemen were standing outside the Police Station. One of them enquired from me the reason of my being there I replied that I have come to report that Nangloi had been destroyed. While I was proceeding in the Police Station some of them asked me, "Why you have come here, you should have gone to Nangloi Police Station."

I informed them that Nangloi Police people have not helped and have done nothing. One out of them pushed me and one Sikh policeman indicated to me that I should leave that place. I again asked police people that as you are on duty record my report. The first constable again pushed me. I also saw that about 8 / 10 injured Sikhs with their children were sitting in the Police Station and they informed me that they belonged to Trilokpuri.

I started on foot from police station towards Nangloi. On the way a cyclist gave me lift and dropped me upto Madipur, from there I walked upto Block-X, the house of Mohammedans, where other persons had taken shelter, my brother was not there, my children had reached there they informed me that Gurdwara has been burnt and our house has been also looted.

People from the mob were shouting that in case we have to save ourselves then we should get our hair cut. Dhanna Singh came out after getting his hair cut. Where, on my way to my house, I passed near Jamadar's Garhi (Sweepers Gaarhi) these people encircled me, I informed them that my husband was lying sick in the hospital one person from the mob recognized me and said, "At one time these people had wood stall, please spare her."

8. That on 2-11-1984, at about 6 am, all those girls and women of Sikhs who were hiding in the houses of the Mohammedans, were hidden by me in my house. A little after 8 am Sajjan Kumar – MP was delivering a lecture in the colony and many people were listening to him. At that time wife of Dhanna Singh asked Sajjan Kumar that her husband was writhing, and he be helped but he feigned as if he had not heard her. Sajjan Kumar thereafter, left in his car.

9. On that day 2-11-1984, at about 11:00 / 11:30 am, S. Sarup Singh hiding somewhere was spied by some people and seeing him they started shouting that Sardar is standing. Mob attacked him and he was killed with lathis. Sarup Singh was burnt opposite the house of Tek Chand. Some people from the mob climbed on to the roof where I had hidden some men.

They caught hold of one Rattan Singh in the stairs and injured him and pushed him down the stairs, he was in a precisions conditions and seriously injured, petrol was poured upon him and he was put to fire. At about 3 pm, the police took the dead body on a charpaye (cot). On 2-11-84, evening a little while after 4 pm. Councilor Bharat Singh came in his car and after seeing everything immediately left in his car.

10. That on 3-11-1984, from the morning onwards – through out the day there was looting and killing. I saw about 32 dead bodies of the Sikhs. The policeman who had pushed me in the Punjabi Bagh Police Station, was wearing three stripes (hawaldar) whom I can recognize by face. He spoke Haryanvi and was of wheatish complexion.

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