1984 Delhi Sikh Genocide - Statements

Statement submitted before the Nanavati Commission

Witness No. 123

Name : Kuldip Singh Makhni

Age :

Occupation : Business

Address : B-5/28 Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi.

On SA

I had earlier filed an affidavit before Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission of Inquiry. I am shown a photocopy thereof, which bears my signature. I have also filed one affidavit before this Commission. In addition to what I have stated in my affidavit I want to say few things.

On 31.10.84, I had gone to All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) twice, once in the morning and again in the afternoon. There were many Sikhs who had come to the campus of AIIMS. I did not find any hostility from the crowd towards Sikhs who had gathered there. After I had filed my affidavit before Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission of Inquiry I had come to know that the office of the Intelligence Organization near my house was that of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

Before my house was set on fire I was observing the movements of the mob from my window. I had seen the crowd of 10 – 15 persons coming towards my house earlier and it was returning in large number after some time. Thereafter, as stated in paragraph 5, my house was set on fire. While the house was set on fire I was on the first floor of my house. I was standing some time in the verandah and watching what was happening outside. The police officers had seen me standing on the first floor of my house in the verandah; inspite of that the police officers had informed the Major Sandhu that none was in the house when he had come to my house and had inquired whether anyone was in the house.

When Mr Sandhu was about to go I shouted from my house and that is how he was able to see my presence in the house. While I was being taken to Dhaula Kuan by Mr Sandhu, we had passed by the Gurdwara behind Sangam Cinema and there we had noticed the crowd trying to burn the Gurdwara and attack the persons therein. Mr Sandhu stopped his vehicle there and seeing the army man there the crowd had dispersed. The family inside the Gurdwara was rescued by Major Sandhu.

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

My house is in 500 Sq. Yds. Plot. There is a small lane in front of my house. It is approximately 30 ft./ 10 ft. When I had seen the mob, they were standing on the front side of my house on the road which was on the opposite side of my house. The width of the road is about 60 meters. The height of my compound wall is about 4 ft. After the two policemen had passed by my house and had gone near the corner two houses away from my house, they had signalled the crowd to come back.

I had seen that myself. When I had filed the affidavit before Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission Inquiry, I never intended to put all the facts before that Commission. Whatever important facts had come to my mind I had put them in my affidavit. While I prepared that I had not remembered that fact and therefore it was not included in that. I had not stated earlier in any of my affidavits that the police had waved to the crowd to come back.

I had not made such statement before any other authority, as I had no occasion to do so. The distance between the two policemen and Mr Sandhu was about 5 to 6 ft. The distance between me and Sandhu and two policemen was 55 – 60 meters. I had not heard conversation between policemen and Mr Sandhu. When Mr Sandhu had knocked at my door, they were not with him and were standing at some distance. The policemen had not entered my house.

While knocking at the door Mr Sandhu had no conversation with the policemen who were standing outside. When I had shouted at Mr Sandhu, the policemen were still standing outside. Even at that time there was no conversation between the policemen and Mr Sandhu. The conversation was much earlier.

Cross examination by Ashok Kashyap, Advocate on behalf of Central Government deferred

Read over and found correct.

(Kuldip Singh Makhni) (G.T. Nanavati)

10th December, 2001

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