1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Victims Demand Death Penalty for Sajjan Kumar After Ex-Congress MP Given Life Imprisonment

New Delhi: The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has awarded life imprisonment to former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, in a murder case concerning the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. A special judge of the Delhi Court pronounced the judgement today afternoon, however, the victims are demanding the death penalty for the ex-Congress MP.

1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Victims Demand Death Penalty for Sajjan Kumar

The victims and members of the Sikh community have welcomed the Delhi Court's decision but have decided to appeal in the Delhi High Court, seeking the death penalty for Sajjan Kumar. The accused former Congress leader, who has been convicted in the murders of a father and son in Delhi's Saraswati Vihar during the 1984 riots, is lodged in Tihar Jail, and has now been awarded life imprisonment. 

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1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: Ex-Congress MP Sajjan Kumar Awarded Life Imprisonment

The complainant, who is the wife of Jaswant, who was killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, had sought the death penalty for him; the maximum punishment for the offence of murder is death penalty while the minimum punishment is life imprisonment. The CBI-led prosecution had also submitted written arguments demanding death penalty for Sajjan Kumar.

Former Congress Leader Sajjan Kumar Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

Judge Kaveri Baweja of Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court sentenced Sajjan Kumar to life imprisonment in a murder case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The ex-Congress leader has been sentenced for murder (Section 302) and unlawful assembly (Section 149) of the IPC. Sajjan Kumar has also been awarded life imprisonment for the offence of Destruction of property with fire (436) read with Unlawful Assembly (149) IPC.

The 1984 riots erupted following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984, leading to the killing of at least 2,800 people in the national capital alone.

(Inputs from ANI)