1984 Sikh Genocide: Victim widows to hold hunger protest in Ludhiana
Posted: 09 Sep 2016
LUDHIANA—Expressing dissatisfaction over working of the Modi led Union government in delivering justice to the 1984’s Sikh genocide victims, President of Sikh Genocide Victim Welfare Society (Ladies Wing) Gurdeep Kaur has announced to hold fast till death from September 12.
Interacting with media, Gurdeep Kaur said that the Union government did nothing to avail relief to the victim families.
“I will sit on hunger strike before the District Commissioner’s Office in Ludhiana from September 12 along with four other victims if the Government doesn’t deliver justice,” she added.
During the 1984 Genocide, Gurdeep Kaur’s 21 family members were killed alive in front of her.
She recalls how Hindu mobs broke into her house and burnt her husband and two sons alive. Following the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, thousands of mobs killed and raped Sikhs across Delhi and other Indian cities.
Following account of Gurdeep Kaur was filed in an affidavit before the Nanavati Commission:
On the morning of 1 November, when Indira’s body was brought to Teen Murti, everyone was watching television. Since 8.00 am, they were showing the homage being paid to her dead body. At about noon, my children said, “Mother, please make some food. We are hungry.” I said, “Son, everyone is mourning. She was our mother too. She helping us to settle here. So I don’t feel like lighting the fire today.”
Soon after this, the attack started. Three of the men ran out, and were set on fire. My youngest son stayed in the house with me. He shaved off his beard and cut his hair. But they came into the house. Those young boys, 14 and 16 years old, began to drag my son out even though he was hiding behind me.
They tore my clothes and stripped me naked in front of my son. My son cried, “Elder brothers, don’t do this. She is your mother just as she is my mother.” But they raped me right there, in front of my son, in my own house. They were young boys, maybe eight of them. When one of them raped me, I said, “My child, never mind. Do what you like. But remember I have given birth to children. This child into the world by this same path.”
After they had taken my honour, they left. I took my son out with me, and made him sit among the women, but they came and dragged him away. They took him to a street corner, hit him with lathis, sprinkled kerosene over him, and burnt him alive.
I tried to save him but they struck me with knives and broke my arm. At that time, I was completely naked. If I had even one piece of clothing on my body, I would have gone and thrown myself over my son and tried to save him. I would have done anything to save at least on young man of my family. Not one of the four is left.