A random member of Dehli PoliceA retired Delhi Police inspector, who was a member of the team that probed an anti-Sikh riot case, today found himself on the back foot when he was asked questions on alleged police inaction at the time when a mob killed a victim.
Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Kumar deferred the matter for tomorrow as Mamchand, posted in the Riot Cell constituted to look into the 1984 riots cases, expressed his inability to respond to the queries as to why the armed policemen refrained from using force when the mob killed Gurbakshish Singh.
Singh was killed outside his house at Paschim Vihar here by a mob in the riot that had followed the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.
Mute spectators?
The FIR names Ishwar Singh, Jagdish Singh and Sajjan Singh as the accused in the case and Singh's father Swaran Singh Bhatia had identified the trio before the court and further claimed that the policemen remained mute spectators during the entire episode.
During the investigation, Mamchand had examined inspector Rana, who was present at the crime scene but allegedly did nothing to save the victim or his family from the irate mob.
After Mamchand testified that he was asked to handle the present case and he recorded statements of a few victims and witnesses in the case, the prosecutor asked him as to what was the explanation given by Rana regarding his alleged inaction.
The prosecutor further asked him if any criminal case was pending against Rana for alleged negligence and dereliction of duty as he failed to help the victims.
Mamchand, who had earlier said that no action was taken against Rana as his explanations were found satisfactory by him and other senior officers, sought some time to respond.