The Hindu : New Delhi News : Key witness in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case surfaces in U.S.

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Friday, Nov 30, 2007
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Key witness in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case surfaces in U.S.

New Delhi: Two months after the CBI described him as “untraceable”, a key witness in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case involving senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler surfaced on Thursday in the United States and the investigating agency said it would record his statement if he came to India.

The witness, Jasbir Singh, in California, told TV news channels that the CBI had never contacted him before and that he was ready to testify before a court in Delhi if he was assured of proper security.

“The fact that you are talking to me means that I am accessible ...” Mr. Singh said.

Mr. Singh, who has filed several affidavits against Mr. Tytler, a former Union Minister, before various Commissions, told the channel that he was willing to testify before the court and narrate everything provided he and his family were assured of safety.

He also claimed that a Congress Councillor called him five months ago and asked him to change his statement or face dire consequences.

The CBI on September 29 filed an affidavit in a court here seeking closure of the case against Mr. Tytler taking the plea that Mr. Singh was untraceable. The agency has been directed by a court here to submit the address of Mr. Singh.

CBI Director Vijay Shankar Singh told Times Now that the CBI would ensure that if the witness came forward to give his evidence it would record it, investigate further and put it before the court.

The CBI in its charge-sheet on September 29 had claimed that Jasbir Singh, who had allegedly heard Mr. Tytler inciting a mob for killing Sikhs, could not be examined as he was currently settled in the US and his whereabouts were not known. Two Sikh organisations – the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee and the November ’84 Carnage Justice Committee -- had, on October 4, moved an application seeking a copy of the said charge-sheet, so as to help them in filing a petition against the agency’s claim.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Sanjeev Jain directed senior counsel H. S. Phoolka, representing the Sikh organisations to furnish Jasbir Singh’s address as he claimed that the witness had expressed a desire to come forward and record his testimony in the case.

“As I understand, you rely upon the testimony of Jasbir Singh. Give me his address and I would direct the CBI to trace him,” the ACMM said while directing counsel to furnish the address of Jasbir Singh on December 6. The court, however, expressed doubt as to whether the attendance of the witness could be ensured in the case. — PTI

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