‘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.