Compensation demand for armymen killed in 1984 riots

Patiala, May 20 (UNI) The ex-servicemen wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has demanded that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandik Committee (SGPC) should give compensation to the families of Sikh army personnel who were killed during the anti Sikh riots in 1984.

This demanded was made by the ex=servicemen wing secretar general Col (retd) Partap Inder Singh Phulka while reacting to the decision of the SGPC to give one time financial assistance to the Sikh soldiers who had deserted the Indian Army during 'Operation Bluestar' in June 1984.

The SGPC has sought applications for one time financial assistance to the tune of Rs 50,000 per family from all Sikh soldiers who deserted the Indian Army in June 1984.

Mr Philka said here today that said though the exact number of those killed was not known but he had located 50 such families. Those who lost their lives were either going home or were returning to their respective units, he added while claiming that this number could be around 300.

He said that even the Nanawati Commission and other commissions that had inquired into the November 1984 anti-Sikh riots had mentioned such deaths in their respective reports. Even Sikh army officers in uniform were pulled out of trains and killed by unruly mobs, he added.

He said these families had not even received financial grant given to the riot-hit under the red card scheme of the government. In fact no one came forward to help these families, he added.

UNI XC HS BK1825