1984 Delhi Sikh Genocide - Affidavits

Affidavit submitted before the Misra Commission

I, Piara Singh son of S. Ram Singh, aged 47 years, resident of 11/12, Amrit Kaur Puri, Tank Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi-110005, od hereby solemnly affirm and state on oath as under: -

1. That on 31-10-1984, in the evening, when I heard the news of Mrs. Indira Gandhi's assassination, I closed my shop in Regarpura, Gali No.75, No.5571/1, Karol Bagh, Delhi, run under the name and style, “Khalsa Electric Store” at 4 PM, and went to my house.

2. That on 1-11-1984, at about 8:30 AM, it was known that idstubancs have taken place in the city and the Sikhs were being killed. My son, Gurbax Singh, who had already cut off his hair under medical advice, and my wife went to the shop, to know its position and remained there till 6 – 6:30 PM.

3. That according to the disclosure made by my wife and son, a mob of 400 – 500 strong came towards my shop twice. They were equipped with lathis, iron rods and ‘sabbals'. They were raising the slogans, “Khoon Ka Badla Khoon” (Blood for Blood) – loot the shops of Sikhs – burn them etc.”

4. That my shop had a signboard, “Khala Electric Store” and therefore, the mob came again and again to attack it. Whenever, the mob came, my wife, Krishna Devi pleaded with them (made earnest appeals) and the mob retreated. So much so that Ishwar Kumar, son of the landlord of my shop incited the mob that this shop was of Sikhs. However, at the entreaties and appeals made by my wife, the mob retreated. In this way, upto 6 PM, the mob came to my shop 3 times. During that period, Ishwar Kumar threatened my wife that this shop will definitely be looted.

5. That while my wife and son were still there, a police jeep came which announced that every body should go inside their houses because curfew has been imposed. This false announcement was made by the police at 6–6:30 PM, which was heard by my wife and son. On hearing this, they returned home. Till then, my shop was in tact.

6. That on 2-11-84, at about 8 AM, some body from the Mohalla came and told us that our shop had been looted, but it has not been burnt. On 2-11-84, at about 7 – 7:30 AM, my son Gurbax Singh went to Regarpura to see the shop. He saw that the locks on the shop and the shutter had been broken and the entire shop had been looted. It was learnt there that this shop had been looted after my wife and son had left that place at 6 – 6:30 PM on 1-11-84, because during their presence there, the shop was in tact and Ishwar Kumar, son of the landlord of the shop had threatened that this shop cannot be an encolpion – this must be looted. It can therefore, be said with confidence that Ishwar Kumar was involved in the looting of the shop with the help of the mob. With the looting of this shop, I have been put to a loss of about 60 / 65 thousand rupees.

7. That I lodged a report with the police station about the looting of the shop on 5-11-84. That report was written in Urdu script and a doubt had been expressed therein that the landlord can harass and also be dishonest.

8. That 10 / 12 days thereafter when I went to the shop to carry out its repairs, the landlord of the shop, Inderjit threatened me and after demolishing some portion of my shop, started construction of about five feet Almirah. On my asking, he told me that I could report to any Police Officer and he will manage. I got frightened and kept quiet because the atmosphere then was not yet favourable.

9. That when I was carrying out the repairs a police party arrived there. I told them that the landlord was threatening and illegally demolishing a portion of my shop. I further told them that I have already lodged a report with the police and have expressed doubts that the landlord can harass and become dishonest. The police did not pay any special attention to what I had said and told me that if the report was in Urdu, the same might not have been read by anybody and so no action could have been taken on that report.

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