1984 anti-Sikh Riots case: Sajjan Kumar’s neighbours call it ‘good riddance’

The doors of the West Delhi residence of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, who was convicted by the Delhi High Court in a 1984 anti-Sikh riot case and sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday, remained bolted with curtains raised on the windows. Other than the police movement, the street outside the residence remained drop-dead silent.

Kumar’s neighbours did not comment on his conviction. His next-door neighbour, a Punjabi-Sikh family, refused to talk whereas some others are discreetly calling it ‘good riddance’. “Security have taken over our society park outside his residence. We are happy that he will go and so will be his personal security,” said a neighbour on the condition of anonymity.

Even as some are happy with the judgment, Kumar’s lawyer Anil Kumar Sharma is all set to take the matter to the apex court. 

Amid all the tension outside Kumar’s residence, the ringtone of Nirpreet Kaur’s phone, daughter of one of the victims of Sikh riots, kept ringing “Shukar Dateya Tera Shukar Dateya” (Thank you, my lord, thank you).