How exactly did the violence begin in the Capital and assume the horrendous proportions that it did?
A. The violence began in the evening of October 31 in the vicinity of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, where Indira Gandhi s body was still lying. The first serious indication of the violence came when the cavalcade of President Giani Zail Singh was stoned near AIIMS. After Indira Gandhi s death was announced at 6 pm, the crowds went on a rampage in nearby areas like Safdarjung Enclave, Laxmibai Nagar, INA market and South Extension. The police conspicuously failed to take any action against the miscrents nor they try to protect Sikhs and their property. But there were no killings at all on October 31 anywhere in Delhi. The first murder of a Sikh was reported in the early hours of November 1 in east Delhi. After daybreak on November 1, many farflung areas of Delhi were taken over by armed mobs as administration seemed to have disappeared for the next 72 hours. The police belated imposed curfew but there were hardly any instances of shoot at sight orders being enforced. The Army
