Sajjan acquittal: angry Sikhs block Delhi Metro, J&K highway

Angry protesters, mainly Sikhs, on Wednesday today staged protests in Delhi and Jammu over the acquittal of Congress politician Sajjan Kumar in a case relating to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The protestors blocked Delhi Metro services for much of the day, while their counterparts blocked the Jammu-Kashmir Highway.

The protests in the national capital were mainly in west Delhi, where the Sikh population is substantial. Shouting slogans and carrying placards like 'Hang 1984 Culprits' and 'Give us Justice', the protesters marched to Tilak Nagar Police Station and blocked traffic in the area.

Later, a protest was also staged outside Tilak Nagar police station.

A group of protesters entered the Subhash Nagar Metro Station in west Delhi and sat on tracks at around 12:45 pm, disrupting services. As a precautionary measure, the Metro stations at Subhash Nagar and Tilak Nagar, where there is a considerable population of Sikhs, were closed for the public.

A Delhi Metro official said Subhash Nagar station was opened for public at 2:38 pm and Tilak Nagar station at 2:52 pm.

"After 30 years we are yet to get justice. The government should feel ashamed. We will never forget and forgive who allowed culprits get scot free. We want justice," one of the protesters said.

A Delhi court on Tuesday acquitted Kumar, who faced charges of inciting riots against Sikhs in the wake of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's murder (See: Sajjan Kumar acquitted in Delhi riots case; judge greeted with shoe).

Sikh groups in Jammu also held protests. Apart from blocking the highway, activists of several Sikh organisations sat on a dharna and took out demonstrations at Digiana on the outskirts of the city.