A Kanpur court has sentenced one of the two surviving accused to life imprisonment in connection with the 1981 Behmai massacre. The incident involved late bandit Phoolan Devi and her gang, who killed 20 people, predominantly from the Thakur community, as retaliation for her rape.
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A Kanpur court has issued its first conviction related to the infamous Behmai massacre, a chilling episode of violence led by the notorious bandit Phoolan Devi and her gang in 1981. This case, deeply embedded in the annals of India’s criminal history, saw the tragic killing of 20 individuals, predominantly from the Thakur community, as an act of vengeance for Phoolan Devi’s rape.
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On a day that marks a significant chapter in the pursuit of justice, Judge Amit Malviya of the Kanpur court found Shyam Babu guilty, sentencing him to life imprisonment, while co-accused Vishwanath was acquitted due to insufficient evidence. This verdict stands out as the first conviction among a list of 35 accused, including Phoolan Devi herself, who later turned to politics and was elected as a Member of Parliament before her assassination in 2001.
The Behmai massacre, which occurred on February 14, 1981, in the village of Behmai in Uttar Pradesh, was a brutal response to the rape of Phoolan Devi by two men from the Thakur community. The incident not only led to the loss of 17 Thakur lives but also ignited a nationwide controversy, prompting the resignation of then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister VP Singh.
Phoolan Devi’s life, marked by extreme violence and a subsequent political career, has been the subject of intense public and media scrutiny. Known as the ‘Bandit Queen’, her story was immortalized in a film directed by Shekhar Kapoor, based on the book “India’s Bandit Queen: The True Story of Phoolan Devi” by Mala Sen. Her surrender in 1983 under an amnesty scheme and her time in prison until 1994, followed by her election to the Lok Sabha in 1996 and 1999, highlight a tumultuous journey from a life of crime to one of political engagement.
The legal battles surrounding Phoolan Devi’s crimes and her eventual release, facilitated by the withdrawal of cases by the government of then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, have been contentious. The decision to withdraw cases was later overturned by a Kanpur court, a decision upheld by the Allahabad High Court. The Supreme Court, too, rejected her plea for the dismissal of all cases against her in December 1996.
Phoolan Devi’s assassination on July 25, 2001, by three masked gunmen outside her Delhi residence added a tragic end to her controversial life. The recent verdict, leading to Shyam Babu’s incarceration, brings a long-awaited sense of closure to one of the many chapters of her storied life, although the broader saga of Phoolan Devi continues to evoke mixed reactions of sympathy, condemnation, and intrigue across India.
This conviction, arriving 43 years after the massacre, underscores the complexities and challenges of delivering justice in cases marred by political, social, and legal hurdles. It also reflects on the enduring impact of Phoolan Devi’s legacy on India’s social fabric and the criminal justice system.
As the country continues to grapple with issues of caste violence, gender-based crimes, and the rehabilitation of former criminals into society, the Behmai massacre conviction serves as a poignant reminder of the long shadow such events cast on the collective Indian conscience.
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