Affidavit of Mishra Commission                         Statement before Nanavati Commission  

          I, Ram Bilas Paswan S/o Shri Jamuna Paswan, aged about 40 yrs., R/o 15, Windsor Road, New Delhi, do hereby solemnly affirm and state as under: -

1.                    That reports came to us from many quarters on 31st October, 1984, that there is tense Anti-Sikh atmosphere prevailing throughout the country especially in Delhi.

2.                    That on November 1, 1984, in the morning we had a meeting at the residence of Chowdhary Charan Singh to take stock of the whole position and take remedial measures to diffuse the tension. In the meeting these were Shri Devi Lal, Shri Karpoori Thakur, Shri Khumbha Ram Arya, Mrs. Tarkeshwari Sinha and other members. In this meeting the members expressed surprise as to how is it possible that the violence is being conducted in uniform pattern throughout the country.

3.                    That we a group of four including myself Karpoori Thakur, Devi Lal and K.R. Arya went in a car unto Tilak Nagar to asses the whole situation. In the way our vehicle was stopped at many places my mob gathered there. They let us go only after ensuring that there was no Sikh with us. We saw that there was smoke everywhere and there were many groups of miscreants standing at many places. We returned to the residence of Chowdhary Charan Singh at about noon-time.

4.                    That at about 1:30 pm, on November 1, 1984, I went to meet Gyani Zail Singh, the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Chowdhary Charan Singh, Shri Karpoori Thakur and Shri Sharad Yadav were also with me. We explained him that the whole Delhi was burning and there no police administration worth name existing. We told him that at many places the police did not take any action when the unruly people indulged in the illegal act of violence, arson and murder etc. He told us that probably curfew will be enforced from 2 pm, onwards. He asked us to see and talk to the Home Minister from the President’s Office. I rang the Home Minister. His P.S. lifted the phone and after ascertaining my identity replied after sometime that he will ring us after ½ (half) an hour. We did not get any phone after half an hour.  Then I again rang up the Home Minister. His Private Secretary told me that the Home Minister was not available as he was very busy in a meeting. Thereupon the President assured us to talk to the Home Minister regarding this matter.

5.                    That I returned to my residence at No.12, Rajindra Prasad Road, New Delhi. On route I saw two cars burning near the Railway Bhawan. At that there were 10 – 12 MLAs from Bihar staying at my residence. They told me that a group of people set fire to some taxis parked at the private taxi stand just nearby. One Sardarji who was hiding somewhere was beaten mercilessly by them people. He fled from that place and had sought refuge in my residence, he was an old man badly wounded. The mob followed him upto my residence but my guard at the gate closed the gates. He was offered water. The MLAs told me that the group of people came from the Raisina Road side where the office of the Youth Cong. (I) is situated. I rang up the Police Station Parliament Street many times but there was no response. Even telephoning No.100 did not bring forth any result. Then I again rang up the Home Minister at about 3 pm, narrated the entire incident to his Private Secretary and he assured that the police will come soon. But no body came.

6.                    That a strong mob attacked my house at about 4 pm. My body guard Joginder Prasad Singh and Private Secretary Mahinder Betha were at the gate. They closed the gate. But the mob surrounded the residence from all sides. My body guard Joginder Prasad Singh and Sri Mahinder Betha knows many faces in the mob and can appear as a witness if and when required.  According to him the known figures were the workers of Congress (I).  They were shouting anti-Sikh slogans.  Apprehending more trouble, my Body Guard fired in the air to scare the unlawful assembly.  But as the mob highly outnumbered all of us, it broke open the gate, set fire to the garage in my house and also set fire to a Bihar Bhawan Car parked there.  They entered the rooms also.  We managed to save our lives by escaping through the servant quarters situated at the rear wall of the house.  Then they caught hold of the injured old Sardarji who could not run alongwith us and threw him alive in the burning garage, where he was roasted alive.

7.                    That at the time of occurrence a police van passed from the road many times and one Dr. P.S. Barma waived it to stop for help.  But the van did not stop. Police came at 6.30 or 7 PM when the mob had finished its job.  Some body went to Chaudhary Charan Singh who came with his own force alongwith Shri Sharad Yadav and thereafter I remained at his place.

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