Another witness against Tytler

CHANDIGARH: The 1984 anti-Sikh riots case against former union minister Jagdish Tytler took a new turn when Giani Surinder Singh, a high priest in the Gurdwara Majnu Ka Tila in Delhi, testified in front of the CBI on Thursday saying Tytler had instigated the rioting crowd in front of Pulbangish Gurdwara in Delhi to put three Sikhs and parts of the gurdwara on fire.

The giani, who was employed in the gurdwara, told CBI officials that he was witness to the rioting that was “masterminded by Tytler” on the scene.

The CBI has been re-investigating the case at the behest of the Delhi high court after an US-based Sikh Jasbir Singh offered to give his statement as a witness against Tytler.

Singh told the CBI that he had given a similar statement earlier to the Nanavati commission, but retracted later following threats and pressure from supporters of Tytler.

He said he had come forth to submit his statement once again after he had been assured protection by Akal Takht jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti and SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar.

Singh told mediapersons that  in his testimony, he gave graphic details  of all that he saw on that gory day when rioters had run amok at the instigation of Congress leaders. He also told the CBI that there were other Congress leaders who had accompanied Tytler and instigated the crowd but he didn’t know their identity.

b_ajay@dnaindia.net