Verdict in 1987 Hashimpura massacre case Feb 21

The verdict in the 27-year-old Hashimpura massacre case will be delivered Feb 21, a court here said Wednesday.

Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Jindal reserved the order in the case for Feb 21 after public prosecutor, defence and survivors and family members of victims' counsel concluded their final argument in the case.

Special Public Prosecutor Satish Tamta and counsel for the survivors and family members of victims, senior advocate Rebecca John have 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.

Around 15 Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel are facing trial for allegedly killing 42 people in Meerut in Uttar Pradesh May 1987.

There were 19 accused in the case. Some of them died during the trial.

The killings had allegedly 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.