1984 riots: HC reserves verdict in 22-year-old appeals of over 80 convicts

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday reserved its decision on 22-year-old appeals of over 80 people convicted and sentenced to five years in jail for rioting, burning houses and curfew violation during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Justice R K Gauba reserved the verdict in the appeals after arguments in the matter concluded on Tuesday.

The convicts have challenged the August 27, 1996 judgement of a sessions court which had convicted 88 out of the 107 people arrested on November 2, 1984 for rioting, burning houses and curfew violation in Trilokpuri area of East Delhi.

After the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, the next couple of days witnessed widespread rioting and killings of Sikhs in the national capital.

According to the FIR lodged in connection with the Trilokpuri incident, 95 people had died in the rioting and 100 houses were burnt, senior advocate H S Phoolka, who has been representing the riots victims in various matters, said.

Of the 88 convicts who moved the high court, several have died during the pendency of their appeals and the case against them has abated, police had earlier said.