Many Sikhs like me have been forced to shiftout of Hissar because of mass violence against our community on July 8.

I had been practicing in Hassar as an advocate since 1962 and was a leading lawyer on the criminal side not only at Hissar but also at Jind, Sirsa and Bhiwani. Since 1976, I have been President of Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Hissar, and also Chairman of local Guru Nanak Girls High School. In October 1981), Haryana Sikh Convention was organized by me which was presided over by Sardar Hukam Singh, former Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajasthan Governor. I had built a house in 198182 in a posh colony of Green Park, Hissar.

There was killing of bus passengers at Lalru on the night of 6th July. And a meeting of peace committee was convened by Shri A.D. Malik, D.C. Hissar, and Chaudhary Lakhi Ram, S.P., Hissar. In spite of my request, which was supported by Sardar J.S. Bhandari, General Secretary of Singh Sabha both the officers refused to impose section 144 Cr.P.C.

Next night the unfortunate incident at Daryapur took place at about 9 p.m. Immediately on learning about it, there was a commotion in Hissar and meetings were organized by the majority community to commit acts of violence against the Sikhs, particularly against me and Sardar Bhandari, in retaliation. Both of us approached the authorities for protection which was curtly refused. Finding no other alternative and to save the lives of family members, both of us left Hissar in our respective cars and crossed over to Punjab before dawn.

Next morning, i.e. on 8th July, the majority community, in accordance with their plan, started committing acts of violence. At first they attacked the main Gurdwara Singh Sabha and burnt all the “Birs”, holy volumes of Guru Granth Sahib, after pouring kerosene and petrol on them. They also burnt all the rooms, “palkis” and everything else in the main hall of the gurdwara. The police not only played the role of a silent spectator but also actively instigated the crowd instead of providing protection. All the shops of the Sikhs were either looted or burnt down, causing loss amounting to crores of rupees and making more than one hundred families penniless.

Houses of the prominent Sikhs, like that of mine; Sardar J.S. Bhandari; Sardar Amrik Singh, vice President of Singh Sabha; Dr. Kuldip Singh, a leading medical practitioner; and others were either looted or burnt. My house alone, costing about Rs. 15 lakhs and articles worth about Rs. 5 lakhs were reduced to ashes.

The district administration did not take any action till the entire Sikh community at Hissar had been fully belabored and violent mobs had been fully satisfied with having achieved their objective. The D.C. and S.P. were actively conniving with the rioters; police personnel were instigating and even participating in the attacks on Sikhs; City magistrate, Mr. K.L. Nagpal, who is president of local Nirankari Mandal, was in the forefront in organizing this violence.

Army was called in the evening only when the whole game was over. What has happened to the Sikhs sent by the army to the refugee camps is more pitiable and can’t be even described.

The law and order was restored only after the whole Sikh community at Hissar had already suffered the maximum. In so far as the recovery of looted property is concerned the figures in the newspapers are exaggerated. It is just a publicity stunt by the authorities who were, in fact, responsible for this carnage.

In view of these conditions prevailing at Hissar, I have shifted to Chandigarh.

It is strange that no newspaper has correctly reported the acts of violence, the loss of properties, and the killings at Hissar, Fatehabad and Sirsa.

Let me stress that for the stray acts of violence in Punjab, mass violence against innocent Sikhs elsewhere is not at all justified. It is all the more so when no mass violence is committed against Hindus even in Punjab. There Sikh masses are not at all involved in and incident of violence.

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 14, 1987