19 people were named as accused and 17 of them were charged for murder, attempt to murder, tampering with evidence and conspiracy in 2006
File Photo Hashmipura massacre
Agencies / New Delhi
In a major verdict the Delhi High Court today sentenced 16 former police personnel to life for killing 42 Muslims in infamous Hashimpura massacre in Meerut Uttar Pradesh in 1987. The High Court called the Hashimpura massacre in Meerut as “targeted killing” of unarmed and defenceless persons and overturned the trial court’s verdict which had acquitted the accused.
The high court convicted the 16 former Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel for murder, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence. All of them have to surrender on or before November 22.
“This is a case of targeted killing of members of the minority community by state forces. The statements of the accused prove their presence beyond reasonable doubt. The compensation paid and conviction after 31 years is still a miscarriage of justice for the victims,” the court said.
The killings took place during a riot in Meerut when the victims were picked up from the Hashimpura by the PAC during a search operation. The charge-sheet was filed in 1996.
The Supreme Court transferred the case to Delhi in 2002 following a petition by the families of the massacre victims and survivors.
The first witness testimony was recorded in 2006 — 19 years after the massacre. During this time, three of the CID investigating officers died and couldn’t testify. Nineteen people were named as accused and 17 of them were charged for murder, attempt to murder, tampering with evidence and conspiracy the same year.
However, in March, 2015, a trial court acquitted the 16 giving them benefit of doubt, saying their identification could not be established due to lack of evidence while one died during the trial. All the 16 convicts have retired from service.
The verdict was challenged by Uttar Pradesh, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and some others including a survivor of the massacre in the Delhi High Court.
Timeline Hashimpura massacre
The killings of 42 Muslim men took place during a riot in Meerut in 1987 when the victims were picked up from the Hashimpura neighbourhood by the 41st Battalion of the PAC during a search operation.
May 22, 1987
50 Muslims picked up by the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel from Hashimpura village in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
Victims later shot and bodies thrown into a canal. 42 persons declared dead.
1988
UP government orders CB-CID probe in the case.
February 1994
CB-CID submits inquiry report indicting over 60 PAC and police personnel of all ranks.
May 20, 1996
Charge sheet filed against 19 accused before Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ghaziabad by CB-CID of Uttar Pradesh police. 161 people listed as witnesses.
September 2002
Case transferred to Delhi by the Supreme Court on a petition by the families of victims and survivors.
July 2006
Delhi court frames charges of murder, attempt to murder, tampering with evidence and conspiracy under the IPC against 17 accused.
March 8, 2013
Trial court dismisses Subramanian Swamy’s plea seeking probe into the alleged role of P Chidambaram, then Minister of State for Home, in the matter.
January 22, 2015
Trial court reserves judgement.
March 21, 2015
Court acquits 16 surviving accused giving them benefit of doubt regarding their identity.
May 18, 2015
Trial court decision challenged in the Delhi HC by the victims’ families and eyewitnesses who survived the incident.
May 29, 2015
HC issues notice to the 16 PAC personnel on Uttar Pradesh government’s appeal against the trial court verdict.
December 2015
National Human Rights Commission is impleaded in the matter. NHRC also seeks further probe into the massacre.
February 17, 2016
HC tags Swamy’s appeal with the other petitions in the matter.
September 6, 2018
Delhi HC reserves verdict in the case.
October 31, 2018
Delhi HC convicts 16 former PAC personnel for life after finding them guilty of the murder of 42 people.