Kejriwal askes Jung to start SIT probe on anti-Sikh riots

AAP's convener and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today requested Lt Governor Najeeb Jung to set in motion the process of setting up the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for probing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots by officially notifying it.

"Some of the witnesses are already old and setting up of the SIT is perhaps their last hope of getting justice in this country. Therefore I request you to kindly expedite the setting up of this team," Kejriwal said in a letter addressed to Jung.

The AAP government on February 6 had recommended to Lt Governor for setting up SIT to probe the anti-Sikh riots with a time frame of one year to submit its report. The modalities of the SIT probe were approved in a cabinet meeting. Subsequently, the Lt Governor had approved the proposal.

In the letter, Kejriwal thanked Jung for supporting his government's decision and asked him to appoint police officers from outside Delhi for a thorough and impartial probe of the "most brutal" incident in the capital's history.

Kejriwal has also suggested names of three senior IPS officers from outside Delhi who could be appointed to head the SIT and conduct probe.

"Kejriwal impressed upon the LG to ensure quick formation of the SIT since many of the eyewitnesses have already been waiting for 30 years to provide their version of how they lost their near and dear ones in pre-meditated riots in which around 3,000 innocent people lost their lives," a statement released by AAP said.

The Delhi cabinet while approving the modalities of SIT probe had stated that all those cases which were closed or shown untraced would be re-opened, re-investigated and if need arises would also file fresh FIRs. Besides that, in those cases where investigations have been completed, charge sheets would be filed.