1984 Delhi Sikh Genocide - Statements

Statement submitted before the Nanavati Commission

Witness No. 27

Name : Mahinder Singh, S/o Tara Singh

Age : 68 Years

Occupation : Business

Address : C-39-C, Tilak Vihar, New Delhi – 18.

On SA

I have stated everything, what I have to state before this Commission in my affidavit filed on 31st August, 2000. In addition to what I have stated therein I say that the Gandhi Nagar Police Chowki is about 3 furlongs away from my house. My neighbour Charan Das had gone to inform the police. Charan Das had told us that the police had refused to come as they had no orders to leave the police chowki.

A mob which had come to our house on 2.11.84 was of about 300 to 400 persons. My brother Bhajan Singh was also killed by the mob. He died on 5.11.84 in the hospital because of the injuries received by him during the incident. Besides my house there were three other houses of Sikhs. The other three houses of Sikhs were also attacked by the mob. Those houses were burnt. All four persons were killed by the mob during the attack.

I was for the first time called by the police in 1984 for recording my statement at Shahdara Dist HQ Police. It was in connection with the inquiry against Om Prakash police officer. Thereafter I was called when Om Prakash had come to our house to remove the dead bodies on the night of 2.11.1984 he uttered the words that the other three Sikhs were spared, I was so told by my mother. I was not present.

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

I had not earlier filed any affidavit before Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission of Inquiry or before any authority looking into 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots. The only affidavit which I had filed in the court was about compensation. The everything which I have stated in my affidavit dated 31st August, 2000 may not be there in my previous affidavit as it was mainly for the purpose of obtaining compensation.

Some persons in the mob were from our locality. I knew them. They had asked me to move away from that place in front of the gurdwara where I was standing but I refused to move away and then I was attacked. I do not know if any case was registered by the police in respect of Satnam Singh, Kalyan Singh and my brother Bhajan Singh. No statement was recorded by the police in respect of those deaths.

I had gone to the police station to lodge a complaint after I was discharged from the Hospital. I had remained in the Hospital for about two months. I do not remember if the police had come to the hospital and recorded my statement. I had received summons from Shahdara Court and I appeared in the court two – three times.

I had given evidence in that court. The evidence was in connection with the incident which had taken place in and around my house on 2.11.1984. Charan Das had not given the name of any police officer with whom he had met. He had merely said that he had met the Police Officer. I cannot say that Charan Das had met only the duty officer. I know that many more similar incidents had taken place in my locality.

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

Read over and found correct.

(Mahinder Singh) (G.T. Nanavati)

18th July, 2001

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