Report of the Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry (1984 Anti-Sikh Riots): Volumes I and II

The report quotes ‘official estimates’ to say that 2,733 Sikhs died in Delhi as a result of the violence that occurred between October 31 and November 5, 1984. The report states that this number has been disputed by representative bodies of the Sikh community, which say that more than 3000 Sikhs were killed between October 31 and November 7, 1984.

The report states that most of the deaths took place on November 1 and 2, 1984: “Big mobs armed with weapons attacked the houses of Sikhs; male members were assaulted and beaten mercilessly and many of them were burnt alive or cut into pieces. Many dead bodies were removed in vehicles and it is alleged that they were thrown into river Yamuna. Large number of shops and business establishments of Sikhs were looted and many of them were thereafter burnt also. Many taxi stands and taxis were also burnt as mainly Sikhs were in that business.”

In many places, the report states, the ‘riotous mobs’ consisted of ‘outsiders’. The mobs were equipped with weapons and inflammable material which indicates an organised attempt at violence, where a large number of Sikhs were killed very swiftly.

The commission concluded that local leaders and workers from the Congress party “…had either incited or helped the mobs in attacking the Sikhs.” The local leaders, states the report, appeared to have taken the help of their followers and supporters in inciting and committing this violence.

The report states that there is no evidence suggesting that Rajiv Gandhi (member of the Congress party and Indira Gandhi’s son, who was elected as prime minister after her death) or any other ‘high ranking leader’ from the Congress had suggested or organised attacks on Sikhs during the 1984 riots.

The commission notes that the police did not record separate first information reports (FIRs) and statements of witnesses, and did not adequately investigate cases related to the 1984 riots. As a result, it was difficult for the commission to make recommendations about persons named by witnesses as having allegedly promoted or participated in violent acts during the riots.

The commission recommends the formation of a police force which is independent of political influence and equipped to take immediate action during communal disturbances.

If the police is unable to register every offence separately when they are reported during large-scale riots, the commission recommends that the government should take steps to see that all complaints are properly recorded and investigated by independent investigating officers at the earliest.

The commission recommends that the government should provide employment to one member of each family that has lost all its earning male members as a result of the riots, and does not have sufficient means of livelihood.

Focus and Factoids by Khushboo Sahrawat.