'I Did Not Dare Say Or Do Anything...'

What made you give this deposition before the CBI against Tytler after somany years?

I had given a similar testimony in an affidavit before the NanavatiCommission in January 2002 but due to pressure from Tytler's men, was forced toresile from it. For all these years while I was a granthi in various Delhigurudwaras I did not dare say or do anything for fear of being harassed byTytler whose men always kept a watch on me and threatened to liquidate myfamily. Then, sometime last month a reporter from a local television channelconducted a sting operation of sorts on me, where, without knowing that I wasbeing filmed, I tacitly admitted to Tytler's role in the three deaths in frontof gurudwara Pul Bangash in 1984. If I had known what the reporter was up to Iwould have never admitted it because my whole life is now topsy turvy.

Could you elaborate?

I have had to flee Delhi and am living in someone else's house in Punjabwhile my wife and daughters are still in Delhi. I will certainly have torelocate to my ancestral place Batala because if I go to Delhi, I will be unableto resist pressure from Tytler's men again.

The Akal Takht and SGPC have offered help and protection to witnesses likeyou in the larger interest of the Sikh community so that you can deposefearlessly.

I have come out mainly after being assured of help by the SGPC and others.But so far nothing concrete has emerged. I have not even been provided securityby the Punjab police. The main reason why we have been unable to get anyone ofnote convicted is that the Sikh community as a whole has never mobilized itselffor this cause. Witnesses like me feel very beleaguered and let down.