Protests against 1984 anti-Sikh riots. | Photo Credit: PTI

​New Delhi: The Delhi Patiala House Court on Tuesday pronounced death sentence for convict Yashpal Singh and announced life imprisonment for another convict Naresh Sherawat in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case..The two were convicted on November 15 for killing two young Sikhs in Delhi's Mahipalpur area after the assassination of erstwhile Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This is the first sentencing in the case after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) took over the probe in 2015.

The quantum of sentence in the double murder case was announced today amid tight security outside the court. A massive ruckus was created outside the court premises while the suspects were going back. Due to this, a large security deployment was made outside.

Jubilant and emotional scenes were witnessed outside the Delhi Patiala Court, with members of the Sikh community expressing their contentment with the judgment that comes 34 years after the deadly riots. Many also hoped that Congress leaders Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, both accused in the case, would also be "brought to justice". 1984 anti-Sikh riots: Hope Sajjan Kumar gets death sentence for his role in the riots, says KTS Tulsi

The two convicts, 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 (SIT).

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."

Several police officers and others, including the paramilitary forces and the DCP reserved forces were also present outside the Patiala House Court to avoid any kind of untoward incident. Only two people from each side, the convict and victim, were allowed to go inside the courtroom.

As per official records, over 28,00 Sikhs were killed across India while 2,100 of them in Delhi after Indira Gandhi was assassinated by a Sikh bodyguard.