The Supreme Court Today (Dec 6) granted bail to eight convicts in the infamous 1987 Hashimpura massacre case of 38 persons by the personnel of the Provincial Armed Constabulary. A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih took note of the submissions of senior advocate Amit Anand Tiwari, appearing for four convicts, that they are suffering prolonged incarceration after the Delhi High Court reversed their acquittal by the trial court in the case.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India, on Friday, granted bail to eight convicts involved in the infamous 1987 Hashimpura massacre, a tragic incident that claimed the lives of 38 individuals.
The massacre, carried out by personnel of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), remains one of the darkest chapters in India’s history.
The Incident: A Grim Chapter in Communal Violence
The Hashimpura massacre unfolded on May 22, 1987, amidst communal tensions in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Personnel from the PAC’s 41st Battalion, specifically the C-Company, allegedly rounded up approximately 50 Muslim men from the Hashimpura locality.
These individuals were forcibly taken to the outskirts of the city, where they were brutally shot, and their bodies were dumped into a canal.
The massacre resulted in the death of 38 individuals, leaving only five survivors to recount the horror.
The survivors’ testimonies exposed the atrocities and became a pivotal part of the decades-long judicial battle.
Judicial Timeline: From Acquittal to Conviction
A significant turn of events came when the Delhi High Court reversed the trial court’s acquittal of the accused.
This decision led to their incarceration.
However, on Friday, a bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih reviewed the appeals for bail made by the convicts.
Arguments in Favor of Bail
Senior advocate Amit Anand Tiwari, representing four of the appellants—Sami Ullah, Niranjan Lal, Mahesh Prasad, and Jaipal Singh—presented compelling arguments in the Supreme Court.
He stated:
- The appellants had endured prolonged incarceration of over six years following the Delhi High Court’s judgment.
- The trial court’s acquittal was reversed on erroneous grounds, despite being well-reasoned and substantiated.
- The appellants had demonstrated exemplary conduct during the trial and appeal processes.
“The appellants have been in jail for over six years since the High Court’s judgment,”
-emphasized Tiwari, urging the court to consider their prolonged detention and the questionable basis of their conviction.
Supreme Court’s Decision
Taking into account the submissions, the Supreme Court allowed the bail pleas of the eight convicts.
This decision provides interim relief to the individuals as they await further legal proceedings.
Legal and Social Implications
The Hashimpura massacre case has been a subject of intense scrutiny, reflecting the challenges of addressing communal violence and ensuring accountability.
The recent decision by the Supreme Court adds another layer to the complex legal journey that has spanned over three decades.
This landmark case continues to evoke debates on justice, accountability, and communal harmony in India, with its reverberations felt across social and legal spheres.
The survivors and families of the victims still await closure, as the fight for justice persists.
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