Anti-Sikh riots case: Delhi HC notice to three policemen

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to three Delhi Police officials on a plea challenging their acquittal in the killing of three members of a family in Nangloi in the national capital during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

A bench headed by Justice Sanjeev Khanna sought response from the policemen by December 11 on an appeal filed by the Delhi police.

A trial court on September 25, 2014, acquitted the then station house officer of Nangloi police station, Ram Pal Singh Rana, the then sub-inspector Dalel Singh and the then head constable Karam Singh of offences punishable under the Indian Penal Code, including murder, rioting, kidnapping and threatening to give false evidence.

The trial court held that the complainant and witnesses turned "hostile and contradicted their earlier statements".

The trial court noted that a testimony of complainant Gurbachan Singh, whose three family members were burnt to death allegedly by the accused on November 1, 1984, was inconsistent and he repeatedly changed his stand.

Following the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi by two Sikh security personnel on October 31, 1984, anti-Sikh riots broke out in different parts of the country, including Delhi.

The complainant claimed that despite his repeated attempts, police did not lodge an FIR in the case.