By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: Sixteen Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel were acquitted by a court here on Saturday in the 1987 Hashimpura massacre case.
The court gave the benefit of doubt to the PAC personnel, saying that there was not enough evidence against them. Around 19 PAC personnel were facing trial for allegedly killing 42 people in Meerut in Uttar Pradesh on 22 May 1987, of whom tree died during the trial.
1987 Hashimpura massacre (Courtesy: IE)
Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Jindal acquitted 16 Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel of the charges dealing with murder, attempt to murder, tampering with evidence and conspiracy.
The killings had occurred during riots in Meerut city after the victims were picked up from the Hashimpura Mohalla of the city by personnel of the 41st company of the PAC during a search operation.
The charge sheet in the case was filed before Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Ghaziabad in 1996. The case was transferred to Delhi in September 2002 on the order of the Supreme Court following a petition by the families of the massacre victims and survivors.
A sessions court here in July 2006 had framed charges of murder, attempt to murder, tampering with evidence and conspiracy against all the accused.
Special Public Prosecutor Satish Tamta and counsel for the survivors and family members of victims, senior advocate Rebecca John had said that there was enough credible evidence for conviction of all the accused, while counsel for the accused has taken the plea that the investigation has defects and there are discrepancies in the accounts of the prosecution witnesses.
(with inputs from IANS)