1984 riots: Set up special courts to ensure justice, says Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has asked for time bound special courts to conduct trials and dispense justice in the 1984 Sikh riots case.

"Justice will be delivered only when those responsible for the crimes are punished. Time-bound special courts should be set up and justice must be delivered," Badal told media persons in New Delhi.

"We have asked for a SIT or a Supreme Court committee to dispense justice. It should not take another three-four years to wait for justice. Time-bound special courts should be set up and justice must be delivered," he addedl.

Various protests and demonstrations have taken place on the 30th anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots today . Human rights groups took out a protest march through the national capital to seek justice for the victims of riots while a shutdown was observed in Punjab. Scores of passengers were stranded due to the disruption of train services in Amritsar and Ludhiana.

On Thursday, the central government had announced an additional compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of people who died in the massacre.

While some welcomed the move, others said it cannot be a substitute for justice.

"Any compensation cannot be substitute for justice, we are here for justice. You need to punish the guilty. Sajjan Kumar and Tytler, they are roaming free for the last 30 years, if you cannot punish the guilty, then history will repeat itself," said a protester in New Delhi.