1984 Riots Victims' Families Left Devastated After Sajjan Kumar's Acquittal
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Outside a Delhi court, families of those killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots held on to hope for justice, but it remained elusive. Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar was acquitted in a case related to the violence in Delhi's Janakpuri and Vikaspuri areas. For those who lost loved ones, the verdict only added to their grief. Nirmal Kaur, a woman who witnessed her father being set on fire, said she had spent 42 years fighting for justice. 'My father was burnt alive before my eyes, and every good thing in my life was taken away,' she said, tears streaming down her face. Despite the acquittal, Sajjan Kumar remains in prison, serving life imprisonment for his involvement in another 1984 case. The families, who have lost everything, are now left with nothing but memories of the violence that claimed thousands of lives. Wazir Singh, a family member of a victim, said: 'Sajjan Kumar was responsible for the killing of thousands of Sikhs. We have spent our entire lives fighting for justice, and it seems like it's a never-ending battle.' The acquittal has left the families feeling betrayed, with some vowing to appeal to the high court and even the Supreme Court. 'We will not give up,' said Bagi Kaur, a victim's kin. 'We want justice, and we will fight for it until the end.' The court's decision was based on the prosecution's failure to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The judge said that most of the witnesses were hearsay, and there was no reliable evidence to link Sajjan Kumar to the crime scene. The acquittal is a major setback for the families, who had been holding on to hope for justice. 'We have nothing left to lose,' said one of the family members. 'We will remain outside the court until we get justice.' The 1984 anti-Sikh riots were triggered by the assassination of then PM Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. The violence claimed thousands of lives, leaving behind families who are still fighting for justice.
