Yogi Adityanath Government Constitutes SIT To Probe 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots In Kanpur; To Also Review Acquittals

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted by the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government to look into the circumstances that led to the 1984 anti-sikh riots in Kanpur following the assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi, said an official release on Tuesday (5 February) night, Business Standard has reported.

The SIT, to be headed by retired Uttar Pradesh director general of police (DGP) Atul, will reportedly have four members. The investigation team has been asked to submit its report within six months, the release said.

According to the report, the other members of the SIT include retired district Judge Subhash Chandra Agarwal and retired additional director (prosecution) Yogeshwar Krishna Srivastava.

The SIT will reportedly probe the cases filed in the riots at the time of the police submitting a closure report. It will also review those cases where the accused has been acquitted by the court, Jagran has reported.

Earlier, In August 2017, the Supreme court had reportedly issued a notice to the state government on a petition seeking an SIT investigation of the riots.

The assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh bodyguards in 1984 led to riots in various parts of the country. More than 125 people were reportedly killed in the Kanpur riots.