Not happy with Delhi Court verdict as 'big fish' Tytler, Amitabh still roaming free: 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims' families

The verdict in the case, where life imprisonment was awarded to Naresh Sherawat and death penalty to Yashpal Singh, is the first conviction in the cases reopened by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up in 2015.

Delhi police had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. However, a SIT on the riots reopened it. This is also the first death sentence pronounced in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case by a local court./ ABP News video grab

NEW DELHI: Delhi Court on Tuesday awarded death penalty to convict Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the first capital punishment in the case and Naresh Sherawat was given life imprisonment. While talking to ABP News, one of the family members of the riot victim said that she is not happy with the verdict as only one of the accused was given the death penalty. She demanded that death penalty should be awarded to both the convicts. "Why was Naresh Sherawat given a life? His family can still have options to go and meet him. Big fish like Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan should also be nabbed and given the death penalty. They are still sitting at their houses and doing politics” she said. Jarnail Singh, who was present outside the court, told ABP News, “This is no time to celebrate as the case is now going to move forward to High Court and Supreme Court and anything can happen. Masterminds like Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar are still roaming scot-free. They should be brought to justice for the well-organized anti-Sikh pogrom.” The verdict by Delhi Court is the first conviction in the cases reopened by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up in 2015. Delhi police had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. However, a SIT on the riots reopened it. This is also the first death sentence pronounced in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case by a local court. In the verdict of the case came which after 34 years, one of the victims demanded that a fast track court should be set up to hear the 1984 riot cases where big fish like Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan Kumar should be prosecuted. Earlier On 14 November, Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey held Naresh Sherawat and Yashpal Singh guilty of killing the duo Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh in Mahipalpur area of South Delhi during the riots in 1984. The court held both the accused guilty under various sections including 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 395 (dacoity) and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the Indian Penal Code.