1984 Delhi Genocide - HKL Bhagat: A Witness Won Over

During the anti-Sikh violence, the largest number of killings took place in Bhagat's East Delhi constituency. One witness, Satnami Bai, said Bhagat had led the rioters. Later on, she turned hostile and failed to identify him.

Another witness, Darshan Kaur, stuck to her deposition despite threats to her life and identified Bhagat. But the case collapsed in 1995 and Bhagat was acquitted on the ground that in a riot case, conviction cannot be based on the word of just one witness.

Enquiries revealed that local Sikh leader and former DSGMC member Atma Singh Lubhana had struck a deal with Satnami Bai to change her statement. According to confidential documents of the Lubhana community, this deal was struck for Rs 12 lakh.

Darshan Kaur told Tehelka that Atma Singh Lubhana had offered her Rs 25 lakh to turn hostile and on her refusal was thrashed by him. For beating up Kaur, Lubhana was summoned by the Akal Takht on September 14, 1998.

Takht Jathedar Ranjit Singh, after considering the apology tendered by Lubhana, had pronounced religious punishment. Darshan Kaur stated that he had threatened to burn her alive in Tilak Vihar. Earlier also, she was waylaid by some unidentified people and threatened. She had earlier told Tehelka that she was offered Rs 25 lakh in hard cash but she had sought the payment by cheque so as to expose them.

According to a letter dated December 4, 1996, by Mohan Singh, president of the All-India Lubhana Sikh Sanstha to 'mukhias' of the Lubhana panchayats, "on November 17, 1996 a panchayat was organised at Gurdwara Shaheedgunj, Tilak Vihar, wherein Satnami Bai was questioned about changing her statement.

The Middleman: Atma Singh Lubhana worked on behalf of politicians rather than victims (spycam grab)

In the presence of widows and riot victims, Satnami Bai swore by Guru Granth Sahib that it was Atma Singh Lubhana who was instrumental in her turning hostile.

Satnami stated that a deal was struck for Rs 12 lakh and the rest is known to Atma Singh."

After this Lubhana was summoned by the panchayat but he failed to appear and was ostracised from the Lubhana community (Nikaali - Roti Beti ka rishta Khatam).

On December 2, 1996, Lubhana appeared before the panchayat and agreed to abide by its decision.

The panchayat decided to continue with the boycott of Lubhana and a five-member committee was formed to inquire into this episode.

The members included Inder Singh, Mohan Singh, Bhai Mohan Singh, Hari Singh and Babu Singh Dukhia.

Subsequently, it was decided to summon a Sarva Panchayat to take a final decision on Lubhana. This Sarva Panchayat or Chauraasi Maha Panchayat gathered at Gurdwara Shaheedgunj on April 25, 1999 and included mukhias and panches of 84 villages of north India of the Lubhana community.

According to Babu Singh Dukhia, now president of the Shaheedgunj Gurdwara, Atma Singh Lubhana had confessed to his crime before the maha panchayat and was asked to pay a fine of Rs 5.28 lakh. This was recorded in the panchayat register and Lubhana had also signed it.

A written undertaking by Dukhia revealed that Satnami Bai had also confessed before the panches that Atma Singh had deposited money in her Tilak Nagar postal account. All panches agreed that due to his lust for money, Lubhana had influenced Satnami to change her statement and had turned a traitor.

Babu Singh Dukhia had recorded his dissenting note about pardoning after payment of Rs 5.28 lakh fine. Thereafter, this document was sealed and it was decided that it would not be made public.

When confronted, Lubhana admitted to paying the fine. He stated that the penalty was paid in instalments and spent on renovating various gurdwaras.

As desired by the panchayat, he had also agreed to follow their directive. But he was evasive about the reasons behind his boycott and denied being instrumental in Satnami Bai turning hostile.

"I had not committed any crime but had to put my signatures as everyone persuaded me to settle the matter once and for all."

Caught out, Lubhana denied threatening or offering any money to Darshan Kaur or Anwar Kaur but admitted to being summoned by the Akal Takht.

Tehelka captured Satnami on spycam wherein she admitted to changing her statement because of threats to her life but denied receiving money. She also stated that Congress mp HKL Bhagat led the mobs and his wife was also present.

The conversation has been edited and the operative part goes:

Tehelka: Where were you living during the riots?

Satnami Bai: Trilokpuri.

Tehelka: What all did you see?

Satnami: Yes, I saw all of it, small kids between 10-11 years... killed before me.

Tehelka: Your husband was also killed?

Satnami: Yes, they hit him with a stick, thrashed him, poured kerosene, powder and... then burnt him alive. Many of the Sikhs were dragged by their hair, white powder sprinkled on them and burnt alive, in pain the Sikhs would scream, and rioters comment, 'Sardars are dancing', I saw all this. It has been 21 years of pain and now government has given them clean chit. In front of my house, four children were killed, first they were hit with sticks, their teeth came out, a rioter said 'Saala Zinda Hai' and then they stabbed him.

Tehelka: Do you know the people who indulged in killings?

Satnami: Some were outsiders and some neighbours... Some Jats and Gujjars...

Tehelka: Can you tell us the number of people in the mob?

Satnami: ...they came in numbers armed with sticks, powder, cycle tyres which were put around the necks of many men, poured oil and powder ...and petrol and burnt them... tied their judas (hair tied in a bun) and burnt them.

Tehelka: A common man would not indulge in this unless he is incited by somebody from top. Did anyone instigate the rioters?

Satnami: The killers were all Congress people, how could the justice be done with Congress in power, they were HKL Bhagat, Sajjan Kumar, Tytler, Shastri, Sharma and many others, these were the main people who incited the mob.

Tehelka: Who were the people who led the mob in your area, in Trilokpuri?

Satnami Bai - a witness won over

Satnami: HKL Bhagat.

Tehelka: Was he leading the mob?

Satnami: Yes, he was leading the mob

Tehelka: Did you see him yourself?

Satnami: Yes, in front of my house there was a Muslim woman, his godsister, Bhagat used to come every Sunday to meet her.

Tehelka: So, the mob was led by HKL Bhagat?

Satnami: Yes, both husband and wife were leading the mob. They came in a vehicle and directed to eliminate all the Sikhs.

Tehelka: This was his area?

Satnami: Yes, Trilokpuri was his area and he was leading the mob. HKL Bhagat said these are sons of snake, kill them all.

Tehelka: So, you heard it at that time?

Satnami: Not only did I hear it, I saw it with my own eyes.

Tehelka: So he instructed to kill.

Satnami: There were two blocks, 32 and block number 31, there was a house of a Muslim woman. He came from block number 31, he came from his sister's house and then said, kill all the Sardars, he said none should be spared...

Tehelka: You had also given an affidavit about these incidents.

Satnami: I had given all the papers but the police never recorded my statement, we were told to go back to our houses.

Tehelka: So did you testify before the court?

Satnami: Yes, I was a witness and made a statement in the court and in Nanavati Commission as well.

Tehelka: Was there a threat to your life?

Satnami: Many widows were waylaid and forced to change their statements.

Tehelka: Did it happen with you?

Satnami: Yes, HKL Bhagat's goons threatened me, that if I do not change my statement, my brothers and children would be killed, we were already living in extreme fear, it could happen again, so I had to succumb.

Tehelka: The people of HKL Bhagat threatened you that if you do not change your statement, they will kill your people?

Satnami: Yes, they said so, my parents were living with me.

Tehelka: What exactly did they say, was money also offered?

Satnami: Your brother and children would be killed, if I do not change my statement but no money was offered.

Tehelka: Did you lodge a complaint with police?

Satnami: Nobody heard us.

Credit: Ajmer Singh and Etmad A. Khan - Tehelka.com (8th October 2005)

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