Why this matters now
1984 Anti-Sikh Riots are tested for: 31 Oct 1984 morning Indira assassination at 1 Safdarjung Rd; All-India Radio + Doordarshan announcement that PM was killed by Sikh bodyguards (Beant Singh + Satwant Singh); 1-3 November 1984 mob violence; ~3,000 killed Delhi (Trilokpuri 350+; Sultanpuri 200+; Mongolpuri); CFB-conducted voter lists allegedly used; Misra Commission 1986 (J. Ranganath Misra); Nanavati Commission 2005 (J. G.T. Nanavati); SIT 2014; Sajjan Kumar convicted December 2018; H.K.L. Bhagat + Jagdish Tytler + Madhav Lal Khurana implicated; PM Manmohan Singh apology 2005 in Rajya Sabha.
31 October 1984: Indira’s assassination
At 09:25 IST on 31 October 1984, PM Indira Gandhi was shot at her 1 Safdarjung Road residence by Sikh bodyguards Beant Singh + Satwant Singh. Beant Singh killed immediately by other security; Satwant Singh later hanged 1989. Indira died at AIIMS at 14:20.
Her son Rajiv Gandhi sworn in as PM at 18:00 that day — youngest PM at 40. Doordarshan + AIR repeatedly broadcast that PM was killed by Sikh bodyguards.
1-3 November 1984 Riots
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 31 Oct evening | Sporadic attacks on Sikhs. |
| 1 Nov 1984 | Organised mobs attack Sikh-dominated colonies in Delhi (East Delhi Trilokpuri + Sultanpuri + Mongolpuri + Pul Bangash). Mobs allegedly led by Congress activists with electoral rolls identifying Sikh households. Police inaction widely reported. |
| 2 Nov 1984 | Violence peaked — trains carrying Sikh refugees attacked; Sikh shops + gurudwaras burned. Curfew + Army called only on 3 Nov. |
| 3 Nov 1984 | Army deployed; violence subsided. |
| 1-3 Nov | Similar violence in Kanpur (180+), Bokaro (50+), Delhi (2733-3000), Mumbai (small), Indore. |
Total killed: ~3,000 in Delhi + 5,000 across India (PUDR estimates higher: 7,000+). Trilokpuri alone: 350+ killed in 48 hours. Rajiv Gandhi’s 19 Nov 1984 Boat Club speech: “When a great tree falls, the earth shakes” — widely seen as condoning.
Inquiry Commissions + Justice
| Year | Commission | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 1984 | Marwah Commission (Ved Marwah) | Police-conduct inquiry; Govt obstructed; abandoned. |
| 1986 | Misra Commission (J. Ranganath Misra retd SC) | Report Aug 1986 — acknowledged organised violence but did not name leaders. Recommended setting up further committees. |
| 1987-90 | Jain-Banerjee + Poti-Rosha + Jain-Aggarwal Committees | Investigated specific cases. |
| 1990 | Ahuja Committee | 2,733 Sikhs killed in Delhi alone. |
| 1993 | Narula Committee + Nayar Committee | Mostly inactive. |
| 2000-05 | Nanavati Commission (J. G.T. Nanavati retd SC) | Report Aug 2005. Found credible evidence against H.K.L. Bhagat, Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan Kumar. Named Delhi Police as collusive. |
| 10 Aug 2005 | PM Manmohan Singh apologised in Rajya Sabha: “I have no hesitation in apologising”. | |
| 2014 | SIT (Special Investigation Team) under PG Narang | Re-investigated. |
| 17 Dec 2018 | Sajjan Kumar convicted by Delhi HC for life imprisonment for 2 Nov 1984 murders — surrender 31 Dec 2018. | |
| 2023 | Jagdish Tytler chargesheeted by CBI. |
UPSC angle
Know ANTI-SIKH RIOTS 1984 — 1-3 November 1984 organised pogrom against Sikhs following Indira Gandhi’s assassination; 31 OCT 1984 09:25 INDIRA SHOT 1 Safdarjung Rd by Sikh bodyguards BEANT SINGH (killed) + SATWANT SINGH (hanged 1989), died AIIMS 14:20, Rajiv Gandhi sworn 18:00 youngest PM 40; DD+AIR repeatedly broadcast killed by Sikh bodyguards; 1-3 NOV 1984 MOBS attacked Sikh colonies Delhi (EAST DELHI TRILOKPURI 350+ + SULTANPURI 200+ + MONGOLPURI + Pul Bangash), Congress activists led mobs allegedly using voter rolls, POLICE INACTION; curfew+Army only 3 Nov; trains carrying Sikh refugees attacked, Sikh shops+gurudwaras burned; total ~3000 Delhi + 5000 India (PUDR 7000+) + Kanpur 180+ + Bokaro 50+; RAJIV BOAT CLUB SPEECH 19 NOV 1984 “when great tree falls earth shakes” condoning; INQUIRY COMMISSIONS: Marwah 1984 (police conduct abandoned), MISRA COMMISSION 1986 Ranganath Misra (organised violence but did not name leaders), Jain-Banerjee+Poti-Rosha+Jain-Aggarwal 1987-90, Ahuja 1990 (2733 killed Delhi), Narula+Nayar 1993, NANAVATI COMMISSION 2000-05 G.T. Nanavati (named H.K.L. BHAGAT+JAGDISH TYTLER+SAJJAN KUMAR, Delhi Police collusive); PM MANMOHAN SINGH APOLOGY 10 AUG 2005 RAJYA SABHA; SIT 2014 PG Narang; SAJJAN KUMAR CONVICTED 17 DEC 2018 Delhi HC life imprisonment 2 Nov 1984 murders surrender 31 Dec 2018; Jagdish Tytler chargesheeted CBI 2023.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Anti-Sikh Riots happen?
From 1-3 November 1984 — immediately after the 31 October 1984 assassination of PM Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards.
How many were killed?
~3,000 Sikhs in Delhi + ~5,000 across India (PUDR estimates 7,000+). Trilokpuri alone: 350+ killed in 48 hours. Other affected cities: Kanpur (180+), Bokaro (50+).
When did the PM apologise?
PM Manmohan Singh apologised in Rajya Sabha on 10 August 2005 — “I have no hesitation in apologising”.
Who has been convicted?
Sajjan Kumar (Congress) convicted by Delhi High Court on 17 December 2018 to life imprisonment for 2 November 1984 murders. Jagdish Tytler chargesheeted by CBI in 2023.