Delhi High Court today sought reply of 16 cops on Uttar Pradesh government’s plea against their acquittal by trial court in Hashimpura massacre case. The Uttar Pradesh government challenged the 1987 Hashimpura massacre case verdict which had acquitted all 16 former PAC officials who were accused of killing 42 Muslims in Meerut in 1987. Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Jindal had in his March 21 judgement acquitted them giving them benefit of doubt for want of evidence.
Earlier, the court had also issued notice for July 21 to the Uttar Pradesh government and the accused on a plea filed by the victims of the massacre and National Human Rights Commission which sought an order of a further probe into the matter. The UP government had approached the High Court last week against the order in which the policemen were not held guilty of the charges of murder, attempt to murder, tampering with evidence and conspiracy in the massacre case in which 42 people were killed in Meerut city. The government, in its appeal, said that there are lapses in the trial court’s findings. On March 21, a trial court gave the benefit of doubt and acquitted 16 ex-Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel accused of killing 42 people in Meerut, saying lack of evidence failed to establish their identification in the case.