New Delhi, Jan 22 (NationPress) Following a Delhi court's decision to acquit former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar regarding the alleged murders of two individuals during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the families of the victims were left devastated outside the court.

In a brief ruling, Special Judge Digvijay Singh of the Rouse Avenue Courts cleared 78-year-old Sajjan Kumar of charges connected to the deaths of two Sikhs, Sohan Singh and his son-in-law Avtar Singh, in Janakpuri, as well as another incident in Vikaspuri where Gurcharan Singh was reportedly set ablaze during the riots.

Family members shouted 'Sikho ke katilo ko fansi do (hang the killers of Sikhs)' as they expressed their grief upon hearing the verdict, demanding the death penalty for those involved in the shocking killings.

Amid the emotional turmoil, an elderly woman collapsed while protesting the court's decision.

Victims’ families voiced their shattered hopes for justice, stating, "We have been pursuing this case for 42 years without any resolution. If the government claims he is innocent, why was he imprisoned for so long? There were 18 cases against him. We were hopeful for justice, but today we feel denied," a woman lamented to IANS.

She recounted the harrowing loss of seven family members during the riots, including her father and six uncles, who were burned alive in front of her. "This was our last hope, and today it was crushed," she added.

Another woman, who lost ten family members, expressed her disbelief, asking, "Why has the man responsible for the deaths of Sikhs been set free? How can the court justify this? We demand justice. If he is acquitted, then return our loved ones to us."

“If Sajjan Kumar is innocent, why has he been incarcerated for years? The truth is, he is accountable for the deaths in our family. What wrong did we commit that led to such brutal killings? This is a clear injustice,” another victim’s relative stated.

This case pertains to the violence that erupted after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984.

After many years, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed based on the recommendations of the Justice G.P. Mathur Committee to revisit 114 cases.

In August 2023, the trial court officially charged Sajjan Kumar under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), but dropped the murder charge under Section 302 initially applied by the SIT.

The trial concluded on September 23 last year, with the verdict reserved until December 22.

Earlier, Sajjan Kumar had pleaded not guilty, asserting his innocence and claiming he could not have been involved in the alleged crimes even in his "wildest dreams."

He stated that no substantial evidence linked him to the events and argued that he was not present at the scenes of violence.

On November 9, 2023, the court documented the testimony of the victim, Manjeet Kaur, who noted that she heard from the mob about Sajjan Kumar's presence during the riots but clarified she did not see him personally.

Sajjan Kumar, then a Member of Parliament, has been implicated in multiple cases of inciting violence against the Sikh community.

Previously, the Delhi High Court issued a harsh judgment against him in another case, stating he had evaded justice for decades due to political protection and sentenced him to life imprisonment. His appeal against that conviction is currently pending before the Supreme Court.