Lakhvinder Kaur Testifies in Court About 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots
In New Delhi, the Rouse Avenue court heard the testimony of Lakhvinder Kaur, widow of Badal Singh, who was killed during the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots at Gurudwara Pul Bangash. Badal Singh, a ragi at the Gurudwara, was reportedly killed by a mob. Lakhvinder Kaur recounted being informed by granthi Surender Singh that Congress Leader Jagdish Tytler incited the mob, allegedly instructing them to harm Sikhs and set the Gurudwara on fire.
The court had previously charged Tytler on September 13. Lakhvinder Kaur shared that her husband had left her in Mujaffarnagar two days before the incident and returned to Delhi. She learned of his death five days later and traveled to Delhi with her father-in-law. At the time, her elder daughter was ten months old, and she was pregnant with her younger daughter.
In 2008, Surender Singh reportedly told Lakhvinder Kaur about witnessing the mob attack on her husband. He claimed to have seen Tytler inciting the violence. Lakhvinder Kaur’s lawyer filed an application for investigation based on this information. The defense opposed her testimony, labeling it hearsay, but the court will consider its admissibility after all evidence is presented.
Next Steps in the Case
The court has scheduled Lakhvinder Kaur’s cross-examination for October 15. The case continues to unfold as the court examines the evidence and testimonies related to the tragic events of 1984.
Doubts Revealed
Lakhvinder Kaur -: Lakhvinder Kaur is a woman who is speaking in court about something that happened to her husband during the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots.
1984 Anti-Sikh Riots -: The 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots were a series of violent events that happened in India, where many Sikh people were hurt or killed after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Jagdish Tytler -: Jagdish Tytler is a politician from the Congress party in India, who is accused of being involved in the violence during the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots.
Gurudwara Pul Bangash -: Gurudwara Pul Bangash is a Sikh temple in New Delhi, where some of the violence during the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots took place.
Granthi -: A granthi is a person who reads from the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs, and performs religious services in a Gurudwara.
Hearsay -: Hearsay is when someone tells what they heard from another person, rather than what they directly saw or experienced themselves. In court, hearsay is often not allowed as strong evidence.
