The Centre-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) will re-investigate around 75 cases of anti-Sikh riots in Delhi and some other States, a Home Ministry official said.
The decision comes months ahead of the Assembly elections in Punjab.
A total of 3,325 people were killed in the riots. Delhi alone accounted for 2,733 deaths while the rest occurred in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other States.
Delhi Police had closed 241 cases citing lack of evidence.
Panel’s recommendationThe Justice Nanavati Commission had recommended reopening of only four of the 241 cases closed by the police but the BJP wanted re-investigation of all the other 237 cases.
The CBI had reopened and re-investigated only four cases. In two of them, the probe agency filed a charge sheet and in one, five persons, including a former MLA, were convicted.
The SIT was set up on February 12, 2015 following a recommendation by the Home Ministry-appointed Justice (retd.) G.P. Mathur committee. The three-member SIT comprises two Inspector General-rank IPS officers and a judicial officer, a Home Ministry official said. When the SIT was formed about 18 months ago, the government said it would submit its report within six months.
However, it is not known why the SIT’s work got delayed and now it has decided to re-investigate only the 75 anti-Sikh riot cases.
On December 10, 2014, the Modi government announced an additional compensation of Rs. 5 lakh to the kin of each of those killed in the 1984 riots, triggered by the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards.
Last month, the Home Ministry announced that 1,020 riot-affected families will be given Rs. 2 lakh each as part of a Centre-sponsored scheme. — PTI
