Affidavit of Nanavati Commission

I, Tirlochan Singh, S/o S. Late Dwarka Singh, aged about 55 yrs., R/o WZ-186, Gali No.-11, Shiv Nagar, Jail Road, New Delhi-110018,  do hereby solemnly affirmation state and declare as under:- 

1.                  That I was having my shop at 29/1, Double Storey, Ashok Nagar, Jail Road, New Delhi-110018, since 1974.  I am still possessing the said shop.  I was residing on the 1 floor of the said shop along with my family members.  The said house was under construction in part in year 1984, November. 

2.                  That on 31st November,’84 at about 10 A.M. I heard about the death of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister.

3.                  That on 1st November,’84, at about 8 A.M.  I heard the voice of the mob who were shouting “Kill the Sikhs, loot and burn their shops and houses”.  At about 1 P.M. I also saw the smoke coming out of many houses situated near my house from the tar ice of my house.  The violent mob consist of 200-250 persons came to our shop and residence and started throwing stones at our shop.  As my house was under construction in parts so the bits are also available in my house itself.  Consequently my family members also started throwing stones/bricks and deter the mob and able to put them into a distance from my house. 

4.                  That a police jeep was standing just  near to our house and one car was patrolling the Jail Road which also covers our shop and residence.  Apart from this a Police person in uniform were also patrolling on the  Jail Road.  Mr. Babu Lal, then ASI along with three other policemen were in said police jeep.  When this mob was attacking with brick bating these police officials was watching the incidence and  no action were taken by them to deter them said violent mob. 

5.                  That after first attack the said violent mob had again approached us and again starting with brick bating and  we react the same by throwing back the stones/bricks.  Consequently they again with due from the side.

6.                  That in the meanwhile my younger brother S. Than Singh, went down on the road and challenge the said violent mob and after seeing the my said younger brother on the road the said violent mob ran away from the spot to the considerable distance.

7.                  That after seeing my  younger brother S. Than Singh I also came down and joint to S. Than Singh with a view that nothing wrong should be happened to my brother if  said violent mob attacks again.

8.                  That the said police officer were stand near my house and taking no action against the violent mob.  Since the said violent mob could not loot or burnt our shop and house then ASI, Babu Lal along with Satpal, ASI came out of their jeep which were park nearby with lathis and started beating us mercilessly and  put me as well as my brother Than Singh into the patrolling car and taken us in the Police Station Tilak Nagar.  Both these ASI were in uniform.

9.                  That in Police Station Tilak Nagar we were beaten by the said ASI, Babu Lal and said ASI, Satpal  and other police officers who were present / coming in the said police station also given a sever beatings to both of us.

10.              That in our absence other family members taken shelter in our neighbor’s house and thereafter our shop and residence were looted accordingly the same were burnt.

11.              That I along with my younger brother S. Than Singh were kept in the said police station throughout the night and ASI, Babu Lal tied our hands on our back and beaten us, whenever he were passing from the said passage where we were kept by the police, sometimes he was kicking and sometimes he was using lathi and slaps.

12.              That during the night hours 9 more sikh persons young or old brought to the said police station and they were also given a sever beating apart from using fill the language by the said ASI, Babu Lal.

13.              That on the next day i.e. 2nd November, ’84, we were produce before the magistrate by throwing us in the jeep with tied hands on our back along with 9 other sikh  persons. 

14.              That I was released on bail after 10 days i.e. 13-11-84 approx. 

15.              That  police has filed charge sheet before the court on the basis of  false,  frivolous and concocted stories and on 27-07-95, I was discharged by the court.  During this period the said ASI, Babu Lal harassed us like anything.

16.              That during this destruction I suffered a total loss of more than 4 to 4.5 lacs of rupees in respect of my shop as well as my house.  In respect of this I have received only Rs.1000/- from the government only.

17.              That I may be awarded compensation according to damages suffered by me.

18.              That my father had lodged a police report with the Police Station Tilak Nagar, when I was detained by the police.