NEW DELHI: A key witness, who lost her five family members in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots here, on Saturday identified in a court senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar as a person who had instigated the mob during the carnage.
Jagdish Kaur, the witness who was cross-examined on Saturday by the defence counsel before the court of additional sessions Judge Sunita Gupta, also identified Sajjan's nephew Balwant Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal as accomplices.
The defence counsel, who started cross-examining Kaur after recording of her statements was completed, pointed out several inconsistencies in the riot victim's testimonies before various authorities from time to time.
However, Kaur refuted the allegation of being inconsistent, saying she had made the same statements before all authorities, be it Nanavati Commission, CBI or the magistrate in Punjab.
"They (authorities) said that they would take only those statements on record which are found relevant," she said.
The cross-examination of the witness will continue on Monday.
Kaur had on Friday accused the police of taking sides with rioters in 1984 and turning a blind eye to the riots.
She lost five family members, including her husband, in the riots that had followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.
1984 anti-Sikh riots: Witness identifies Sajjan Kumar, others - Delhi - City - The Times of India
Jagdish Kaur, the witness who was cross-examined on Saturday by the defence counsel before the court of additional sessions Judge Sunita Gupta, also identified Sajjan's nephew Balwant Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal as accomplices.
The defence counsel, who started cross-examining Kaur after recording of her statements was completed, pointed out several inconsistencies in the riot victim's testimonies before various authorities from time to time.
However, Kaur refuted the allegation of being inconsistent, saying she had made the same statements before all authorities, be it Nanavati Commission, CBI or the magistrate in Punjab.
"They (authorities) said that they would take only those statements on record which are found relevant," she said.
The cross-examination of the witness will continue on Monday.
Kaur had on Friday accused the police of taking sides with rioters in 1984 and turning a blind eye to the riots.
She lost five family members, including her husband, in the riots that had followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.
1984 anti-Sikh riots: Witness identifies Sajjan Kumar, others - Delhi - City - The Times of India
