Amnesty International disappointed with probe in 1984 Sikh riots

International rights group Amnesty International on Wednesday said it was disappointed with the functioning of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to re-investigate closed cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

"The SIT has disappointed many who have struggled for justice. It has only filed four chargesheets in over two years, following a non-transparent process. The status report submitted to the Supreme Court does not even mention the reasons for closing the cases it had identified for reinvestigation," Sanam Sutirath Wazir of Amnesty International India said while addressing a discussion on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots here.

The SIT, formed by the Union Home Ministry in February 2015, told the Supreme Court that it had identified 59 cases for re-investigation, out of 267 closed by Delhi Police after the massacre, Wazir said.

"Of these, it has closed 38 cases and filed charges in four. The Supreme Court is hearing a public interest litigation on the functioning of the SIT, filed by Gurlad Singh Kahlon," he added.

Amnesty pointed out that the SIT received a third extension in February this year. It has now been given time till August 2017 to complete its probe.

The group had launched a public campaign in 2014 on the 30th anniversary of the Sikh massacre, to demand justice and accountability. Since then, the campaign has gathered several supporters, including 600,000 people in Punjab.

The discussion was organised to talk about the campaign, the functioning of the SIT, and its potential to provide justice for the victims and survivors of the massacre, a spokesperson said.

Nearly 3,000 Sikhs were killed in Delhi and other places in the anti-Sikh riots that erupted after then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was shot dead by her two Sikh bodyguards in New Delhi on October 31, 1984.

Congress party leaders and activists were accused of targeting Sikhs during the riots.

--IANS

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