The case study attempts to answer a number of questions relating to the 1984 Sikh massacres of November 1984, following Mrs. Gandhi’s assassination, through an examination of 551 affidavits, witness statements, and First Information Reports (FIRs) submitted by victims to the Misra and Nanavati Inquiries. The study aimed to establish:

  • How many of the attackers were locals compared to how many were from outside the localities under attack?
  • The religious backgrounds of the attackers, their political affiliation, and police complicity 
  • How many ordinary citizens helped Sikhs?

The Results

The data relates to the percentage of affidavits and witness statements that recorded the following characteristics of the makeup of the mobs:

Local vs. Outsiders
48% vs. 49%

Local: named perpetrator who resided in the same locality as the witness and known to the witness. Outsiders: who travelled from outside the area of attack.

Hindus vs. Muslims
95% vs. 5%

The religious background of the perpetrators as recorded by the victims.

Congress vs. RSS/BJP
98% vs. 2%

Named by witness as members/supporters of the Congress Party, RSS or BJP.

Police complicity
57%

43% of affidavits recorded no details.
Named by witnesses either part of/directing the mob or spectators and/or refused to help Sikhs and/or record the crime.

Citizens who helped save Sikhs
37%

63% of affidavits recorded no details.
A non-Sikh citizen/ neighbour who helped/ warned some/or all of the victims under attack.

Sample size

551 - Affidavits, Witness Statements and First Information Reports (FIRs).

Data source (downloadable PDF)

To quote this study, please cite the following name and link:
Case Study on the 1984 anti-Sikh genocidal massacres ©1984 Sikh Archive
1984sikh-archive.org/affidavits/case-study-into-the-1984-anti-sikh-massacres

Read more: Case Study
the people

Case Study on the anti-Sikh genocidal massacres of November 1984.
1984sikh-archive.org/affidavits/case-study-into-the-1984-anti-sikh-massacres