Large-scale protests were witnessed in the Karkardooma court premises here after District and Sessions Judge J R Aryan acquitted 1984 anti-Sikh riots accused Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, and convicted five others.
The riots in which an estimated 3,000 Sikhs were murdered, happened after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October, 31, 1984.
The court cleared Kumar of charges that he led a group which killed five Sikhs in Raj Nagar area of Delhi cantonment. The five others convicted are former Congress MLA Mahender Yadav, former Congress party Councillor Balwan Khokkar, Kishan Khokkar, Captain Bhagmal and Girdhari Lal.
Dozens of people gathered inside and outside the court premises as the hearing was on. After Kumar’s acquittal was announced, a man hurled a shoe at the judge, following which he was detained. Angry people started protesting both inside and outside the court. As the news spread, an irate crowd standing outside the court complex started entering the premises even as police tried to prevent them.