Gurcharan Singh speaks to the media at his residence in Balongi village, Mohali
|
Gurcharan Singh, who was 17 then, along with his brother, Tejinder Singh were left incapacitated for life in the attack, his father and maternal uncle were brutally done to death by the mob at their Nawada village residence. The mob burnt their houses, shops and killed Sikhs before throwing him into a burning truck. His brother was assaulted with bricks resulting which his spine was fractured and he was left handicapped.
A CBI official from Delhi came to Gurcharan Singh’s Balongi village residence this morning and recorded his statement, which lasted for four hours. The official, however, refused to comment on what Gurcharan Singh said in his statement. A contingent of Punjab police had been deployed outside the residence of Gurcharan Singh on Monday by the state government to provide a security cover to the 1984 riot victim.
Narrating the horrifying sequence of events, Gurcharan Singh told media persons that it was 8:30 am on that day, when Sajjan Kumar came to the village and met the sarpanch, Kirpa Ram. He was leading a mob, which was carrying rods, and other weapons along with kerosene oil. Pala, a depot holder provided the kerosene. Sajjan told the mob to attack Sikhs following which the rioters burn the Gulab Bagh Gurdwara in their locality of which his father Naad Singh was the head priest. He tried to shoo away the mob, which assaulted him with bricks and rods killing him there.
The assailants then barged into his house and dragged his family out. His maternal uncle, Santokh Singh, was bludgeoned with bricks before iron rods were thrust into his eyes. He died on the spot.
Talking to The Tribune Gurcharan Singh rued that for over 23 years no one either from the government or from Sikh community bothered to spare a thought for his plight. “When I gained consciousness, I found myself at my acquaintance’s residence. I was hospitalized and was discharged after 10 days. We shifted to Mohali after the incident and were forced to live a miserable life and that too under threat” said Gurcharan Singh in a feeble voice.
Gurcharan Singh said the SGPC had started giving him Rs 10,000 per month. Besides this a local businessman Tarlochan Singh gave him Rs 20,000 and promised to help him further in his cause.
Expressing satisfaction over the CBI’s behavior, he stated that the officer read out the statement word by word to him and it was correct. Gurcharan said this was the first time his statement was recorded. He had lodged a complaint with the Delhi police after the riots, but the police did not do anything and even did not mention Sajjan Kumar’s name in the FIR.
Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad, president of All India Sikh Students Federation, stated that they would stage a protest in Kadkadduma Court demanding justice and speedy proceedings.
Advocate Navkiran Singh told media persons that the state government had failed to provide relief given to riots victim as per the 2005 policy following Nanawati Commission’s recommendations besides Rs 2 lakh which was to be given to affected families.