The disturbances in Delhi did not involve clashes between any two warring factions, each inflicting whatever damage it could on the other. They were entirely one-sided attacks on members of the Sikh community and their property, often accompanied by arson and murder, rapine and loot. In some localities the outrages amounted to a massacre of innocent persons. The whole community was unfortunately made a scapegoat for the reprehensible crime of a couple of crazed fanatics who happened to be co-religionists.
There were no instances of pitched battles or clashes or active retaliation by Sikhs at large against Hindus at large. On the other hand, the general attitude and reactions of non-Sikh neighbors and friends fell broadly into four categories:
- Hindu neighbors actively assisting Sikhs under attack to the extent of giving them shelter at the risk of endangering their own lives and property. Some cases of loss of or damage to property suffered by Hindus doing this came to our notice.
- Hindu neighbors, while refusing shelter to Sikhs so as to safeguard their own security, did not join in attacking them either.
- In some cases, especially in congested areas, Hindu neighbors acted against the Sikhs to the extent of pointing out Sikh homes to miscreants.
- In the poorer areas, Hindu neighbors by and large joined in the attacks on the Sikhs, though here also we were told of some neighbors extending shelter.
The Commission did hear some accounts of fighting between Hindu mobs and groups of Sikhs. These were however isolated instances of Sikhs defending themselves from attacking mobs.
