New Delhi/Amritsar, Oct 31 : Sikhs on Wednesday took out protest rallies in different parts of the country, demanding justice for the victims of the  1984 anti- Sikh riots.

On this day in 1984, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards that triggered anti-Sikh riots in several parts of the country.

Official figures confirm that 2,733 people were killed during the rioting, while Rights groups put the toll at over 4000.

In New Delhi alone 600 cases of arson, killing and rioting were registered, but police closed half of them, ostensibly for lack of evidence. Only around 10 people have been convicted of murder.

The protestors today demanded that the Supreme Court should take suo motu action and direct the Centre to take action against the 'perpetrators' of the crime.

"There are 10,000 murderers roaming free in the city and this is the biggest danger that they are walking about in the city where the Supreme Court resides. They walk around before the Supreme Court, the High Court and other courts with no one saying anything to them," said Gurcharan Singh Babbar, one of the protestors.

Hundreds of Sikhs belonging to the Dal Khalsa regional group took out a procession in Amritsar in the memory of  those who lost their lives during the riots in the city.

"Today is the day when the massacre of Sikhs started in New Delhi. It was a planned genocide, to teach them a lesson and to punish them, and it went on for three days. And we have gathered here in memory of all those who lost their lives then," said Daljeet Singh Bittu, a protestor and a member of the Dal Khalsa.

The nation today mourned the death of Indira Gandhi and leaders paid homage to her.

Meanwhile, the family of  Satwant Singh, one of the assassins of Indira Gandhi, says their personal life is returning to normalcy .  The family still resides at Agwan village in Gurdaspur district of Punjab.

"Earlier, on the orders of the Congress, people used to boycott us, but now the situation is gradually improving as people reciprocate our good deeds and good behaviour," said Tarlok Singh, Satwant Singh's father.

Although Tarlok Singh added that Congress workers and members still harass them, the residents appreciate the good deeds done by the Singh family.

The day is also observed as Anti-Terrorism day all over the country.  (ANI)