Sajjan Kumar: Life Sentence in Sikh Riots Case

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

• Sajjan Kumar, former Congress MP, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the 1984 Sikh riots case.
• The sentence is for his involvement in the murder of two Sikhs during the riots.
• Kumar is already serving time for his role in the Delhi Cantonment riots case.
• The court also convicted him for rioting and using deadly weapons.
• Prosecutors argued that the case was more serious than the Nirbhaya case, targeting an entire community.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the 1984 Sikh riots. This sentencing stems from his involvement in the killing of two Sikhs. Kumar is currently serving time for his involvement in the Delhi Cantonment riots case. This marks his second life sentence. The Rouse Avenue Court held Kumar responsible for rioting, using deadly weapons, and attempting culpable homicide. Kumar received a two-year sentence for rioting, a three-year sentence for rioting with deadly weapons, and a seven-year sentence for attempted culpable homicide.

The case is linked to the deaths of Jaswant Singh and his son, Tarundeep Singh, in the Saraswati Vihar area of Delhi on November 1, 1984. The prosecution stated that a mob led by Sajjan Kumar looted, set fire to, and destroyed Sikh properties. The violence followed the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh bodyguards. The assassination was in retaliation for Operation Bluestar. Sikh leader Gurlad Singh expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s verdict. He urged the government to appeal to the High Court and seek a death sentence for Sajjan Kumar.

Earlier, the prosecution had sought the death penalty for Sajjan Kumar. They argued that this case was more severe than the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case. This is because it involved the deliberate targeting of an entire community. The prosecution emphasized that the killings were carried out brutally. The also argued that the killings shocked the collective conscience of society. They asserted that the case was not merely about individual murders. It was a crime against an entire community, amounting to genocide. The prosecution highlighted that the riots caused a mass migration of Sikhs. This drastically impacted their lives and livelihoods. Such incidents erode trust between communities and disrupt social harmony. Kumar, who was a Member of Parliament at the time, was accused of failing to protect the victims. He was also accused of actively participating in the violence, openly defying the rule of law.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

• Sajjan Kumar received a life sentence for his role in the 1984 Sikh riots.
• The sentence relates to the murder of two Sikhs during the riots.
• Kumar is already imprisoned for his involvement in the Delhi Cantonment riots case.
• Prosecutors argued this case was graver than the Nirbhaya case, due to the targeting of a community.
• Sikh leaders are dissatisfied and demand a death sentence appeal.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

See Full Bio