India: 16 from provincial armed constabulary acquitted for role in Meerut massacre of 1987

16 acquitted in 1987 Hashimpura massacre case

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/16-acquitted-in-1987-hashimpura-massacre/article7018797.ece?homepage=true

A Delhi court on Saturday acquitted all the 16 accused in the Hashimpura massacre case of 1987.

The court acquitted all the accused - members of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) of Uttar Pradesh saying, “I give them the benefit of doubt due to insufficient evidence, particularly on the identification of the accused.”

The court of Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Jindal had on February 21 reserved the pronouncement of judgment in the 27-year-old case. The PAC personnel were facing charges of allegedly abducting and killing 42 persons of a particular community.

3 of the accused dead

Charge sheets were filed against the 19 accused before the Ghaziabad chief judicial magistrate. They did not appear in court though bailable warrants were issued 23 times between 1994 and 2000. Under public pressure, 16 of the accused surrendered before the Ghaziabad court and were subsequently released on bail.

In September 2002, on the orders of the Supreme Court, the case was transferred to Delhi. Three of the 19 in the original list of accused including platoon commander Surender Pal Singh, under whose instructions the massacre was allegedly committed, are already dead.

PTI adds:

Following is the chronology of events relating to the case:

May 22, 1987: 50 Muslims picked up allegedly by Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel from Hashimpura village in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

May 1987: Victims shot and bodies thrown into canal. 42 persons declared dead.

1996: Charge sheet filed against 19 accused before Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ghaziabad by CB—CID of Uttar Pradesh police. 161 people listed as witnesses.

Sept. 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.

Jan. 22, 2015: Court reserves judgement for February 21.

Feb. 21: Court defers verdict as it was not ready.

March 21: Court acquits 16 surviving accused giving them benefit of doubt regarding their identity.