CBI wraps arguments: Conspiracy to target Sikhs

Sajjan and five others — Balwan Khokkar,Kishan Khokkar,Mahender Yadav,Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal — are facing trial for the killing of five people in the Delhi Cantonment area during the riots.

Cheema told the court that the “planned” violence against a “particular community” indicated a “clear conspiracy”. He said after the assassination,there was only slight agitation in Delhi Cantonment area,till Kumar’s visit at 10 pm on October 31. Cheema said Kumar incited the people,following which there was a “deliberate attack” on the gurdwara on November 1 morning.

“On November 1,there was a concentrated attack on the houses of Sikh people in the area. The so-called mob had addresses of Sikhs and only attacked the Sikh homes. On that day,Sikh people escaped and hid in the homes of their Hindu neighbours. However,on the next day,the mob was told to attack all Hindus who gave shelter to the Sikhs,so there were attacks on Hindu homes from November 2 onwards,” Cheema said.

The CBI counsel said police,too,refused to lodge complaints . “The roznamcha of the police station shows that there was no incident in the area from November 1 to 4,even though several people were killed and several homes destroyed,” Cheema said.

“The nature and extent of the crime,protection to perpetrators coupled with disappearance of evidence indicates a deep conspiracy,” he said.

The CBI prosecutor also rejected the argument by defence counsels,who questioned the testimony of prime eyewitness and complainant Jagdish Kaur on the grounds that she had “improved” her statements — giving different statements to the Rangnath Commission,the Nanavati Commission and the court.

The prosecution dismissed the “minor variations” as a result of “errors in translation”.

A K Sharma,who is representing Kumar and others,said the CBI was bringing in “other issues” in the case. “This case relates to the death of five persons in the Raj Nagar Part-I area. The only gurdwara is in a different area,and the case for the alleged destruction of the gurdwara has been tried in a different court,with Balwant Khokhar and others being accused there. The accused cannot be tried again and again for the same thing,” Sharma said.

The court will hear final submissions from the defence on April 3.

‘Sajjan Kumar incited violence’

n ‘Clear conspiracy’ to target Sikhs

n ‘Nexus between police and local politicians” to shield perpetrators

n Sajjan Kumar “responsible for inciting violence” in Delhi Cantonment area

n Delhi Cantt remained violence-free after Indira Gandhi assassination,but riots started after Kumar held a meeting there

n Police refused to lodge complaints; Police records show no incident in area from November 1 to 4