1984 Delhi Sikh Genocide - Statements

Statement submitted before the Nanavati Commission

Witness No. 62

Name : Gurmeet Singh

Age :

Occupation : Taxi Driver

Address : H.No.H-579, Phase-I, Mohali, Dist. Ropar.

On SA

I have filed an affidavit before this commission. It is shown to me. It bears my signature. (The affidavit is taken on record and is marked as Exhibit No.62/1). I say that what is stated therein is correct. I have nothing more to add to what I have stated in my affidavit.

Cross examination by S.S. Gandhi, Sr. Advocate on behalf of Delhi Police

On 31.10.1984, I had not seen any incident myself. When I was at the R.K. Puram Taxi Stand, the mob had come to attack the Sikhs so long as I was present there. I do not know if the police had come thereafter. I know that in respect of the incident at the R.K.Puram, New Delhi Taxi Stand an offence was registered by the police. I say that there were no nameplates on the 6 policemen who were seen while I was present on 1.11.1984 at 10.00 am near Gurdwara.

I say that that possibly they were either Head Constables or Constables. The only thing that the policemen had told us was to go back to our houses otherwise we would will be put behind the bars. They had also asked us to handover the Kirpans. But we had not handed-over the Kirpans as we would have been without any protection if we would have done so.

I had not filed any affidavit before Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission of Inquiry because I had shifted to my village in Punjab. Thereafter, I had come to Delhi only occasionally while bringing the passengers. This had also happened after about 5 or 6 years. While I was in Mohali I came to know that the affidavits were filed before this Commission. So I had gone to the SDM at Mohali to make an enquiry.

I was told that time for filing an affidavit was over, but that I should contact Mr Phoolka at Delhi. I was not able to met Mr Phoolka in his office so I handed over the affidavit at Rakab Gunj Gurdwara. I wanted to file the affidavit for the purpose of seeing that the culprits were properly punished and for getting the compensation of loss suffered by me. Mr H.K.L. Bhagat at that time was Member of Parliament of our area.

The place where the car of Mr Bhagat was stopped was about 150 to 200 yards away from the place where we were standing near the Gurdwara. I had not heard what Mr Bhagat had told to those policemen nor I was able to hear what the policemen had told Mr Bhagat. The only thing that I saw was is that Mr Bhagat pointed out towards the Sikhs standing near the Gurdwara.

The only thing that what had happened that after what Mr Bhagat had done was that the policemen came near the Gurdwara and asked us to surrender our Kirpans and go inside the Gurdwara. On 31.10.1984 I was with Mr Ratan Singh and his partner. He dropped me at my place at about 11.30 pm. Mr Ratan Singh thereafter went towards his house. I came to know later on that Mr Ratan Singh and his partner had not reached his house on 31.10.1984.

Thereafter I had also learnt that Ratan Singh and his partner were burnt alive. I do not know who had burnt them alive. I had not enquired whether the police had registered any offence with respect to this incident. I had not informed the police about the killing of my uncle and his partner. My uncle's brother was with me. He might have informed the police.

The police had not come so long as I was there. I do not if any post-mortem was done to the body of my uncle and his partner. I do not know if the police had registered an offence, got the post-mortem done and handover the bodies for cremation.

No Cross examination by K.K. Sud, ASG on behalf of Central Government

Read over and found correct.

(Gurmeet Singh) (G.T. Nanavati)

30th August, 2001

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