Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar was sentenced to life imprisonment in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case on Tuesday (Feb 25). He was accused of killing a Sikh father-son duo on November 1, 1984, after the assassination of former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi. 

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Also read: 1984 anti-Sikh riots: Ex Congress MP Sajjan Kumar convicted in Delhi case

He was convicted in the case on February 12 under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections related to rioting, unlawful assembly and murder etc.

Kumar was granted life in prison under section 302 IPC (murder), and 436 IPC (mischief by fire or explosive substance). Under sections 147 and 148, he was sentenced to two and three years behind bars respectively, with a fine.

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This came after Kumar argued in the court that there was no ground for a death penalty against him in the case, claiming he was almost 80 years old and had shown good conduct while being jailed since 2018. 

Also read: 1984 anti-Sikh riots: Delhi court defers judgement in murder case against Sajjan Kumar

The 1984 riots

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An armed mob allegedly resorted to large-scale looting and destruction of properties of Sikhs in the Punjabi Bagh area of Delhi in 1984. It was to avenge the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her security personnel. The mob first killed the father-son duo and then set their house on fire. 

Also read: WATCH | Ghost of Sikh riots haunts Rahul Gandhi's California visit, leader gets heckled by Khalistanis

Sajjan Kumar was accused of the murder of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh in Saraswati Vihar.

After the judgment, the family of those killed said they wanted the death penalty for Kumar. 

Also read: 1984 anti-Sikh riots convict serving sentence in jail dies of COVID-19

A protest was held outside the court before the judgment demanding the death penalty for the accused. 

(With inputs from agencies)