Bhagwani Devi, a witness in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, is listed as untraced in police records.
NEW DELHI: Bhagwani Devi, a witness in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, is listed as untraced in police records. However, the 65-year-old, who lost two sons in the riots, is very much in Delhi and keen to give her testimony.
Bhagwani is not the only 'untraced' witness ready to present their versions on the riots. There are at least nine more such witnesses ready to help protracted investigations into the mass killings.
Bhagwani Devi claims that police did not record her statement even once although she has been trying to give her testimony. She even filed affidavits before the Justice M L Jain and A K Bannerji Committee in July 1987 and Nanavati Commission in 2005 seeking permission to present her version.
"My sons Hoshiar Singh (21) and Mohan Singh (18) were dragged out of the house and burnt alive in front of my eyes," said Bhagwani, who lived in Sultanpuri during the riots and now stays in Rohini.
"I lost everything when I lost my sons, I want the police to record my statement," she said, alleging that she had seen a Congress leader leading a mob and instigating it to 'kill Sikhs'.
Asked why she kept quiet till date, Bhagwani Devi, who earns her livelihood by working as maid, she claimed that she had approached police to give her statement but the effort proved futile.
"The only thing police did was to ask me to fill some papers for the loss suffered," said Bhagwani recounting the 23-year-old developments.
She said a general FIR (No. 250/84) was lodged in the Sultanpuri Police Station but police refused to file a complaint against the Congress leader.
Atma Singh Lubana, President of Riots Victim Camp, claimed that there are many more witnesses, who have been declared 'untraced' despite they being alive and available.
"On the basis of her affidavit, an investigation should be initiated into the role of Congress leader named by Bhagwani in her affidavit," Lubana said.
Alleging that the Delhi Police tried to cover up by declaring Bhagwani Devi untraced on May 14, 1995, he said, "she along with many other victims, whom the police declared untraced, are ready to come forward and help in investigation."
Lubana said the statements of Bhagwani and other witnesses should be recorded at the earliest so that the accused do not go scot-free for lack of evidence.
The readiness of Bhagwani to record her statement on the riots comes close on the heels of another key 'untraced' witness Jasbir Singh coming forward to help in the probe.
Jasbir Singh, who lives in the US, talked to TV channels here, saying he was willing to help in investigation but wanted the CBI to approach him in California as he feared for his life in India.
CBI had filed a closure report in the 1984 riots case involving Congress leader Jagdish Tytler and had claimed that Jasbir, who had submitted an affidavit before the Nanavati Commission, was not traceable.
Lubana said like Jasbir Singh, there are many witnesses, who have been declared untraced by police but are still alive and can help re-investigate the who issue.
"I have a list of people, who have been declared untraced by the riots-cell of the Delhi police, but they are very much in this world," he said, while furnishing a copy of the list.
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