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BIDAR- NAIL IN THE COFFIN
In 1988, Bidar, a city in the state of Karnataka, witnessed a series of anti-Sikh riots that resulted in the violent deaths of six Sikhs, scores of other Sikhs (students and non-students) injured, and the destruction of Sikh property.
BIDAR- NAIL IN THE COFFIN
In 1988, Bidar, a city in the state of Karnataka, witnessed a series of anti-Sikh riots that resulted in the violent deaths of six Sikhs, scores of other Sikhs (students and non-students) injured, and the destruction of Sikh property.
In 1510, Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited Bidar on his way to Ceylon. Bhai Saheb Singh Ji, one of the first Panj Pyare, hailed from this town. In 1988, Bidar had a minority Sikh population. The town has a hospital and a few educational institutes named after Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Three weeks before the Bidar incident, an organization called “NEW SHIV SENA” was formed in Bidar, along with a couple of other Hindutva organizations. They were soliciting donations for the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival, which Sikh students paid.
At 9 PM on September 14, some Sikh students were returning home after eating out when they were stopped by Shiv Sena members and asked for donations. The students informed them that they had already donated, but the members started beating them.
Over the next two days, Sikh Students were attacked all over town. Mai Bhago Gurudwara was attacked twice and even the college walls were demolished and Sikh business and houses torched. All this in the presence of Police. The mobs were shouting slogans of "POLICE ZINDABAD".
A report by PHRC, led by Justice Ajit S. Bains, which went to Bidar said the riots were not due to Hindu Sikh animosity but a well-planned conspiracy by the Shiv Sena.
FOUR DEAD BODIES of Sikh students were found in a well in the town pictured below which was near SP's home
FOUR DEAD BODIES of Sikh students were found in a well in the town pictured below which was near SP's home
Walls of Guru Nanak Engineering college was broken by mobs to enter into college and beat Sikhs. The Sikh owned businesses were looted and burns. The estimated financial loss to Sikhs was in crores.
An article in daily Indian Express pointed out,“Police contingent not only allowed the mob which attacked the college to pull down a wall, it also fired tear gas shells at the students, not the mob. To make it quite clear «which side they were on, police = arrested Sikh students.
“The S.P First denied that he had arrested any students, but had very little to say when these students body roughed up by the police, were rescued form the police lock up by the Deputy Inspector General of police who had by then’ arrived on the scene.”
The killings of Innocent Sikhs did not stop after #1984SikhGenocide . It actually grew up rapidly after that. Below are some FIR copies and statements of residents of Bidar.
(Source: PHRC report; FIR copies and statements of victims and residents of Bidar)
(Source: PHRC report; FIR copies and statements of victims and residents of Bidar)
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