1984 riots: Sikh body claims proofs questioning CBI

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor Sikhs For Justice, a US based human rights group who is advocating the cases of 84 Sikh Genocide with the help of All India Sikh Students Federation President Karnail Singh Peermohammad, stated that he has solid proofs establishing the role of CBI in giving clean chit to Jagdish Tytler in 1984 Sikh massacre.

Attorney Pannun presented record of his conversations and correspondence with SP Ratn Sanjay and DSP Kishore of CBI who were in the United States from December 22 to December 26 to purportedly record the statements of witnesses against Jagdish Tytler. The correspondence clearly shows that the said CBI officers conducting investigation were made aware of the additional witness against Jagdish Tytler’s.

As per attorney Pannun the new witness’s account actually corroborates the statement of key witness Giani Surinder Singh, who was also named by Giani Surinder Singh in his statement as being present at Gurdawara Pulbangash. Not only was CBI requested time again to record testimony of this new witness during the team’s visit to USA, but was also reminded of the same by Attorney Pannun through an email sent to SP Ratn Sanjay on January 16, 2009 after the team had returned to India. However, all the pleas of Attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, to record additional witness’s testimony fell on the deaf ears of CBI, who proved to be hell bent on giving clean chit to Tytler before the upcoming parliamentary elections.

This is on top of what witnesses’ Attorney Pannun claim to be a hoodwink in the name investigation of when the CBI’s approach in questioning the witnesses Jasbir and Surinder was so preposterous that most of the time was spent by the CBI on questions as to the color of clothes worn by accused, size, number and color of shoes worn by the accused and such other irrelevant, rudimentary and mundane details. As per Jasbir Singh and Surinder Singh, the individuals whose statements were recorded by the CBI, Ratn Sanjay and DSP Kishore time and again threateningly told witnesses “you are lying” and “will file charges against you instead for lying to CBI”.

CBI’s intention and collaboration with Jagdish Tytler is also evident from the fact that days before the CBI’s official announcement of handing the clean chit to Tytler, he had openly declared and announced on the national media that CBI has decided to give clean chit in 1984 Sikh massacre case.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun stated that their organizations are preparing to file PIL petitions before High Courts of the states where Sikhs were killed in November 1984. The Petitions will request the respective high courts to conduct a judicial inquiry into the killings of thousands of Sikhs and order the filing of charges against the responsible for the killings.

Attorney Pannun further stated that PIL petitions will be filed against all those who are responsible for killings of Sikhs including Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan Kumar, Kamal Nath, Arjun Singh and others who are being nominated to fight the parliament elections to force Election Commission that the killers of thousands of Sikhs be stopped from fighting the elections.