Presented by Jan Leeming BBC, with Brian Hanrahan reporting from New Delhi.

“Massacres of the last four days seem to have ended. Shops have been open again in Delhi and there’s more public transport. But in refugee camps around the capital, thousands of Sikhs are still taking shelter.

Police and troops have been taking tough action against rioters on direct orders from the new Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi. Today, he announced a new enlarged cabinet. And after attending Mrs. Gandhi’s funeral, Mrs. Thatcher and Princess Anne are on their way home. Their plane is due back in the next half hour.

There are more than 16,000 Sikhs in the camps, hastily set up around Delhi.

In this one, almost every family has a story of murder, burning and beating. And some have the horrific injuries to prove it.


Brian Hanrahan, BBC

All this camp can offer is some rudimentary treatment, but it’s better than being outside.

On Friday night, there was massacre. Ninety-five people died, by the official and perhaps over cautious estimate. One group had tried to take refuge in their temple. It was set on fire. They came out. They were set on fire. Their bodies dumped in a ditch.


Brian Hanrahan, BBC

A group of Hindus and Sikhs have joined together at the stage of peace march calling for an end to the violence. The same group has also provided volunteer doctors, food and clothing for the camps.  We had to do something, they said.

Putting an end to the slaughter will be the first test of the new Prime Minister. Rajiv Gandhi has announced his new cabinet and made the violence his personal concern. He’s twice now toured the worst areas in the dead of night, changed the Delhi Governor and stepped up the army presence.

Mrs. Gandhi’s ashes still lie cooling on top of her funeral pile. People who couldn’t attend the cremation yesterday have been coming to mourn her and replace the garlands of marigold.

The England cricket team left Delhi for Sri Lanka today. They’ll fly back to India next weekend to resume their tour.”

Brian Hanrahan reporting on an anti-Sikh massacres.