Thousands turn out for Indian massacre remembrance service in Wolverhampton

The event, in memory of those who had lost their lives, was held at Wolverhampton's Civic Hall yesterday and was organised by the Sikh Federation.

The organisation is campaigning for the deaths in India in November 1984 to be recognised as genocide so that it can be investigated by the United Nations.

On Sunday the Secretary General of Amnesty International Salil Shetty released a video talking about his experience of the killings - describing the impact on him.

It was screened to thousands of Sikhs from across the UK who had gathered in the city for the service.

It was the first of three such events with the next taking place in Westminster tomorrow and the European Parliament in the coming days.

Mr Dabinderjit Singh, principal advisor to the Sikh Federation, said: "It is 30 years on since the slaughter of 8,000 Sikhs in India in 1984 and this is firstly a service to remember those who died.

"It has been described as a riot but we don't see it as a riot. A riot has two sides but our belief is that Sikhs were sought out via electoral rolls, gurdwaras and businesses and killed.

"There have been 30 prosecutions but not one police officer has been brought to justice. It is important that we get this recognised as genocide so the people who did this can be brought to justice.

"Salil Shetty gave us permission to screen his video which speaks of his experience at that time in 1984 because he was there."

The group says it wants to seek the truth and justice into the massacre as part of its campaign.