1984 anti-Sikh riots: Delhi HC to hear convict's plea on Dec 19

Delhi High Court on Tuesday agreed to hear an appeal challenging the trial court's death sentence order to one of the convicts, Yashpal Singh, in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. The hearing will come up on December 19.

The High Court also agreed to hear another appeal filed by the State machinery for reference of his capital punishment given by the Patiala House Court.

On November 14, convict Yashpal Singh, an accused of killing two persons in Delhi's Mahipalpur area during the anti-Sikh riots, was given death sentence. Another accused, Naresh Sherawat, was awarded life imprisonment. They were also fined with Rs 35 lakh each.

Both the accused were booked under Sections 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 395 (punishment for dacoity) and 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy).

The Delhi Police had closed the case in 1994 for lack of evidence. However, the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the case in 2015.

As per the official records, over 2,800 Sikhs were killed across India after the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984 by her Sikh bodyguards - Satwant Singh and Beant Singh. The whole country witnessed the violence, but the national capital suffered the most as women were allegedly raped and people were burnt alive.