The Horrors Of 1984: Sikh Genocide

Victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh Genocide still experience unhealed wounds 38 years later.

Even though the 1984 riots took place 38 years ago, the families who were impacted by them are still able to plainly perceive the dark shadows of those horrifying events.

Despite losing family members 38 years ago, victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots claimed today that they have been waiting longer and longer for justice. The “slow speed” of the legal processes has also angered the victims. Their injuries have not recovered.

Gurdas Mann, a very well-known Punjabi artist, attempted to use one of his songs to describe the terrible event.

Somewhere in the song, it’s implied how terrible things were at the time. Beyond description, people’s level of inhumanity has been achieved.

Here are some of the families who lost their loved ones.

Bhupinder Kaur, a 68-year-old lady, said that rioters killed five members of her family, including her husband. She lamented the fact that many of the accused had so far avoided punishment.

She described the terror of the morning of November 1, 1984, when her house was invaded by approximately 100 armed individuals as her husband left the house. They beat him after throwing him down and grabbing him by the hair.

His neck was wrapped with a tyre, and he was set ablaze. Her home caught fire after combustible stuff was hurled at it. She said that the rioters killed her two in-law brothers, her uncle, and the kid of her sister-in-law.

Gurmail Kaur said the government had provided some help to impacted families but many of the rioters were enjoying political favouritism, which was like pouring salt in their wounds. Gurmail Kaur said she was living a wretched life after losing four family members.

Gurdev Kaur, a different victim, said that her husband, a former cab driver, had left to pick up clients but never came back. Someone subsequently told her that while her husband had been slain by rioters, his corpse had not been located.

Around 10,000 Sikhs were slaughtered by rioters between October 31 and the first week of November in 1984 in Delhi, Kanpur, and other areas of the nation, according to Surjeet Singh, head of the Danga Peerat Welfare Society.

Numerous those suspected of being responsible for the tragedy have still not received justice. A few of them even passed away. Families who were impacted by the riots are still suffering and seeking for justice.

On November 4, 2022, a candle march was held from CRPF Colony, Dugri, in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the 1984 riots and in support of the long-overdue demand for justice.

Meanwhile, Surjeet Singh also alleged that the red cards (ID cards for victims of the 1984 riots) of around 135 families were cancelled in the past.

He demanded from the state government to resume the cards. Otherwise, they would be forced to launch an agitation.

Slow Court Proceedings A Salt On Wounds

The wait for justice, according to victims of the 1984 riots who spoke out on Monday, has been becoming longer despite the fact that they lost family members 38 years ago. Additionally, they are frustrated with the “slow speed” of judicial processes. Their injuries have not yet fully healed.