New Delhi, Oct. 31, 2016: The Delhi High Court on October 31 sentenced 16 former Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) men in Uttar Pradesh to life imprisonment for killing 42 people in 1987.
The court quashed a 2015 trial court judgment that exonerated them of the crime. It directed all the convicts to surrender before a court in Delhi.
On September 6, the High Court reserved its verdict on the appeals filed by Uttar Pradesh State, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and some private parties, including Zulfiqar Nasir, a survivor of the massacre.
On March 21, 2015, the trial court gave the benefit of doubt and acquitted the 16 former PAC personnel, saying lack of evidence had failed to establish their identification.
The NHRC had intervened in the matter seeking further probe into the massacre.
The following is the chronology of events relating to the 1987 Hashimpura massacre case:
May 22, 1987: 50 Muslims picked up allegedly by Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel from Hashimpura village in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh; victims were later shot and their bodies thrown into canal. 42 people were declared dead.
1988: U.P. 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 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. | I feigned death: witness in Hashimpura massacre case
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 judgment.
March 21, 2015: Court acquits 16 surviving accused giving them benefit of doubt regarding their identity. | Judge: shoddy probe in Hashimpura case
May 18, 2015: Trial court decision challenged in the Delhi HC by the victims’ families and eyewitnesses who survived the incident.
May 29, 2015: High Court 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 in to the massacre.
February 17, 2016: Delhi High Court tags Swamy’s appeal with the other petitions in the matter.
September 6, 2018: Delhi High Court reserves verdict in the case.
October 31, 2018: Delhi High Court convicts 16 former PAC personnel for life after finding them guilty of murder of 42 people.
Source: The Hindu