A Delhi court on Tuesday awarded death penalty to convict Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the first capital punishment in the case.
Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey also awarded life term to co-convict Naresh Sherawat in the case.
The verdict pronounced in the Tihar Jail due to security concerns and attack on the convicts on the premises of the Delhi court.
On November 14, the court had convicted Singh and Sherawat for killing two men in New Delhi during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots—the first conviction in the cases reopened by the SIT.
The Delhi Police had closed the case in 1994 for want of evidence. However, a Special Investigation Team on the riots reopened it.
Sikh leaders welcome death penalty
Sikh leaders cutting across party lines have welcomed the decision of the court to award death penalty to one of the convicts, and vowed to continue their fight till each and every victim gets justice.
Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said they will challenge the life sentence of Sherawat and ensure that even he gets "hanged for his crimes".
"We are satisfied with the judgement but we will keep on fighting and challenge the life sentence of one accused and ensure that even he gets "hanged for his crimes," he told PTI.
He also said that the judgement has given witnesses a very big boost and after 34 years they finally got justice.
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief and Akali Dal leader Manjit Singh G.K. said the judgement will encourage other victims to come forward.
"Other culprits who were hiding behind the Z plus security would be nailed down," he said.
Sardar R.P. Singh, national secretary of BJP, welcomed the decision and urged the apex court to immediately notify the name of third member of the Special Investigation Team formed to monitor further probe into anti-Sikh riots cases of 1984 mainly in Delhi and other states.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader H.S. Phoolka said it was a great judgement and now the Sikh leaders are quite hopeful that in other cases also the victims would get justice.
A Sikh survivor called the judgement "a start", saying the fight will continue till they get "complete justice" and bring all perpetuators to justice.
Cong welcomes verdict
The Congress welcomed a Delhi court's verdict and said it was "proud" that the legal process was being allowed to work out its course.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the party's stand on the legal process is clear and asserted that there should be no external influences.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also welcomed the decision, saying justice has finally been meted out to the perpetrators of the "heinous crime".
"The Congress party's stand is clear. This is a legal process, a legal process which must be allowed to work out its course and we are very proud, happy and fortunate that it is working out its course," Singhvi told reporters.
He said the party welcomes it "subject to the usual caveat that there should be no external influences in the process".
"The purity of the process should not be compromised and the rights of the accused are counter valid with the process... I think the whole country and everybody should welcome and the Congress Party certainly welcomes it," he said.
The Punjab chief minister took to Twitter to express himself. "Welcome the first conviction by a Delhi court in the 1984 riots case. Justice has finally been meted out to the perpetrators of the heinous crimes. Hope the others involved in the attacks are also soon brought to book for their horrendous and inhuman acts," Singh said.
