The Delhi Patiala House Court has sentenced one of two convicts Yashpal Singh to death for his role in 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The other convict, Naresh Sherawat was given the life sentence. Both were convicted on November 15 for killing two young Sikhs in Delhi's Mahipalpur area after the assassination of erstwhile Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984.


This is the first death sentence awarded in the anti-Sikh riots of 1984.


Naresh Sherawat and Yashpal Singh were held guilty of killing Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh. The complaint against the two was filed by Hardev Singh's brother, Santokh Singh. Even though the Delhi Police had closed the case in 1994 for lack of evidence. However, it was further investigated by a Special Investigation Team.


As per a report, the SIT said in a statement that it was a "brutal murder of two innocent young persons aged around 25 each. It was a planned murder since the accused were carrying kerosene oil, sticks etc."