The CBI's 'Untraceable’ 1984 witness speaks

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a status report in a New Delhi court claiming him untraceable. However, Canadian-American Narinder Singh Khaira, a “person of interest” in the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, declares himself willing to talk to investigators. Thirty-two years after the assassination of Indira Gandhi— on October 31, 1984—triggered a pogrom that killed thousands of Sikhs in the national capital, Khaira is determined never to return to India.

Interestingly, days before it was supposed to apprise a Delhi court on a probe relating to the riots, the investigating agency also recently held a meeting with Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner, Bob Paulson. Khaira was amongst the issues discussed, sources said.

During the meeting Paulson was “apprised about the pending judicial request”. In response, the Canadian official assured more cooperation.

Khaira, a toddler at the time of the riots, is the son of the late Surinder Singh, who was a granthi at Gurudwara Pulbangash in Delhi and was witness to three murders in the area on November 1, 1984. Based on his statement, the Nanavati Commission recommended the registration of a case against Tytler for murder and for influencing witnesses.

In 2014, Surinder Singh allegedly died under “mysterious circumstances” at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

“My father deposed in front of the Nanavati Commission. However, not only has his statement been misused, but he was also misguided into retracting it later on,” said Khaira, who shuttles between Vancouver and Calgary and has been living in Canada with his wife and two children since 2005.

Asked how he felt about giving his testimony to the CBI, he said he and his family continued to receive threats, allegedly by goons working for Tytler. He also rubbished the allegation that Tytler paid for his shift to Canada and said his father sold property in Delhi to pay an agent to facilitate the immigration.

A trucker by profession, Khaira said that he had no issues if the CBI wanted to question him over the phone or even meet him in Canada. But he continued to fear for his safety and said he would never come back to India.

Twists and turns

The Khaira family continues to hold centre stage in a case that has haunted victims as well as law enforcement agencies for over three decades. In December 2015, the CBI filed a closure report in court citing "lack of evidence". This report was challenged and the court directed the probe agency to further investigate claims made by arms dealer Abhishek Verma, who had alleged that Tytler paid for Khaira’s immigration to Canada. Since then, the CBI has been “unsuccessfully” trying to trace Khaira.

While it remains to be seen if the CBI will get to him, Khaira spoke to DNA on two occasions on a +1 (403) number, which he said was available with the CBI.

Asked if any CBI official had been in touch, he said an official “named Khan” had called and told him that he would have to come to India for evidence.

“I told the official that I am no longer an Indian citizen and I am not returning to Delhi,” he said.

The probe agency now seems to be moving on the case owing to the court's strict directives.

Khaira said he could recollect conversations that took place between his family members, though he was a toddler then, some about the murders in Pul Bangash and the anti-Sikh riots in general.

“I was very young when the riots took place. All that I know is through the conversations between my paternal uncle and my grandfather,” he said.

Khaira added that some members of his extended family had also shifted to California in the US since they were being threatened.