Supreme Court Grants Relief To Two Convicted Policemen In Hashimpura Massacre Case

Two convicted policemen in the infamous 1987 Hashimpura massacre case have received significant relief from the Supreme Court. This comes after 10 other convicts in the case were granted similar relief by the court earlier. A bench led by Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih issued the order after one convict, citing his age and health, petitioned for bail. The convict, who is 82 years old, argued that he suffers from multiple health issues and should be granted bail on medical grounds.

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Advocate Amit Anand Tiwari, representing the petitioners – Sami Ullah, Niranjan Lal, Mahesh Prasad, and Jaipal Singh – made a compelling case in the Supreme Court. Tiwari highlighted that the appellants had been incarcerated for over six years following the High Court’s ruling. He also pointed out that the appellants had been acquitted by the subordinate court earlier. And their conduct had been exemplary throughout the trial and appeal process in the lower courts.

The 1987 Hashimpura Massacre: A Dark Chapter In Indian History

The Hashimpura massacre, occurred on May 22, 1987, remains most tragic and controversial events in recent Indian history. During heightened communal tensions in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, soldiers from the C Company of the 41st Battalion of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) allegedly rounded up around 50 men from the Hashimpura area. These victims were then transported to the outskirts of the city, where they were shot and their bodies dumped into a canal. Of the 38 victims who died, only five survived to witness and testify about the horrific massacre.

Court Rulings And Legal Journey

In 2015, a trial court acquitted 16 PAC personnel involved in the case, citing a lack of evidence. However, the lower court’s decision was challenged in the Delhi High Court, which overturned the acquittals in 2018. The High Court convicted the 16 accused under various charges, including murder, kidnapping for murder, evidence destruction, and criminal conspiracy. All were sentenced to life imprisonment.

The latest developments, including the relief granted to some of the convicted men, have added a new chapter to the lengthy legal saga surrounding the Hashimpura massacre case.