1989 Jammu Anti Sikh Riots
Sikhs killed and injured in Jammu, January 13th 1989
The Sikhs of Jammu arranged for a procession Nagar Kirtan to commemorate the Advent Day of Guru Gobind Singh. With some Sikhs carrying portraits of Sardar Satwant Singh one of the Bodyguards who shot and killed The Indian Prime Minister and Kehar Singh the uncle of Beant Singh the other Bodyguard who was involved in the killing, the procession was suddenly attacked with deadly weapons by a Hindu mob connected with the organisation Shiv Sena. 13 Sikhs were killed and about 100 wounded, some of them seriously. Several Gurdwaras were looted and set on fire that day. Sikh owned properties worth crores were burnt and destroyed. No one was ever arrested or punished for the killings even though the police were witness to the attack and murders.
Puri demands release of Ansari Commission report
Srinagar, Thursday, 04 June 2009
People Union for Civil Liberties convener, Balraj Puri, has demanded release of the report of the one-man inquiry commission of Justice A Ansari on 1989 anti-Sikh riots without any delay.
Addressing a press conference, here, Puri, said that the commission was required to inquire into the cause and circumstances leading to killing of 14 innocent Sikhs during Gurpurab procession on January 13, 1989 and thereafter in Jammu and some other places and determine and fix responsibility therefore.
He said that the Commission had submitted its report within one year, but ‘it is criminal apathy towards the victims of the riots and neglect of elementary responsibility of the successive government to keep such a vital report secret from the people for the last two decades’.
He informed that it was a peaceful religious procession. “The trouble was created by a handful of fanatics who attacked the procession near Purani Mandi, which was preventable if the authorities had not abdicated their responsibility and connived at the action of the trouble makers,” he said.
Puri said that according to goodwill mission from Delhi, comprising Madhu Kishwar and Smithu Kothari, “If normalcy could be restored by active role of a single dedicated person, that shows there was no deep rooted animosity between Hindus and Sikhs.” they cited instances where majority community gave shelter to the Sikhs. They held the local administration and lack of political support to it to be responsible for the trouble.
The PUCL convener said that the release of the report of the Ansari Commission would not only heal wounds of the Sikh community but also strength fraternal relations between it and the Hindus.
SAD demands making public Ansari commission report
1/8/2011
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has reiterated its demand for making public the Ansari Commission Report concerned with the death of nearly dozen Sikhs during the riots in January 1989 in Jammu. Addressing a press conference, national vice-president of SAD, Jaspal Singh Mangal said that for last two decades victims have been denied justice and those involved in the killings have escaped the noose of law. Mangal also demanded justice for the community in the killing of 36 Sikhs at Chattisinghpora in Anantnag district during the visit of then United States President Bill Clinton to India in March 20, 2000. "People involved in both the incidents should be brought into book and people should know the truth behind the killings in Kashmir and the vested interests behind it", Mangal said.
SAD has also urged the state government to provide legal protection to the Sikhs staying in Kashmir valley that did not leave the valley like Kashmiri Pandits despite the militancy. "We demand that a special package should be announced for the community living in Kashmir as they are facing many economic and social problems", he said. SAD has expressed concern over the alleged use of force against Sant Baljit Singh Daluwal and his companions by the Punjab police at Bhikhi town where they were going to hold religious Diwan on the eve of Guru Gobind Singh ji Parkash Utsav. Mangal has also condemned the manhandling of Simranjit Singh Maan, national president SAD (A) who was to attend the religious function in Punjab.
Reference
All About Sikhs.com
