File photo: A protest organised by families of the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. (Agence France-Presse)
In what may come as a ray of hope for the families of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, the Centre has reportedly decided to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe those cases which were closed by the police and did not reach courts.
The official announcement about the SIT will be made after elections in Delhi are over, sources told NDTV, adding that its members will be decided in next three days.
The decision to set up the SIT was taken by the Home Ministry after a panel constituted by the government under Justice (retired) G P Mathur submitted its report saying there are 225 such cases which need a relook. In its report, the committee has said that in many cases crucial evidence was overlooked and there should be a fresh probe.
The committee, which was constituted in December last year, had a three-month term but submitted its report within 45 days.
Sources say that the committee has pointed out that not much can be done in cases which have been disposed by various courts, but fresh probe needs to be carried out in cases where despite evidence the police instead of filing chargesheets went ahead with closing the cases. Sources say these involve cases against Congress leaders Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler.
The families of the victims have alleged that Delhi police ignored evidence and witness accounts under political pressure and closed these cases.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh had recently described the riots as "genocide" and assured the victims that government will bring the culprits to justice. The riots took place after the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984. Some 3,000 people were killed in violence by mobs allegedly led by Congress leaders.
The BJP has long championed the cause of Sikhs targeted in the riots and recently announced hike in compensation for the victims' families. But Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the BJP of trying to win over Sikh voters ahead of the Delhi polls.