Complainant in 1984 riots asked if she wants to pursue case

NEW DELHI - A city court Monday asked a complainant in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case if she still wants to pursue the matter in which the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a closure report.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Lokesh Kumar issued notice to Harbinder Kaur, who lost her doctor-husband Iqbal Singh Chadda in the riots sparked by the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi, to appear before the court Feb 23.

The court asked Kaur if she still wants to pursue the case. According to court procedures, the complainant is asked this question before a case is closed.

As the proceedings were on in the Karkardooma court, around 250 Sikhs staged a protest outside, torching an effigy of former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, who is accused of taking part in the 1984 riots that left thousands dead. The police used water cannons to disperse the crowd.

Last week, the CBI filed two chargesheets in two riot cases of Delhi Cantonment and Sultanpuri areas against Sajjan Kumar and others. They were charged with murder, riot, destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy.

The CBI also filed a closure report pertaining to the death of Chadda in the riots in Mangolpuri area.

In its closure report, the CBI said the complainant could not give any information as to where, when and who killed her husband Chadda and burnt his body.

The CBI said that several witnesses of the killing had expired. Several others had shifted residence and were not traceable.

Meanwhile, the court has put the other two chargesheets - filed in Sultanpuri and Delhi Cantonment cases - for further consideration Feb 1.