Hashimpura case must be pursued strongly, CPI(M) demands

Noting that acquittal of the accused in the 1987 Hashimpura massacre due to insufficient evidence highlights the "callous" manner in which the prosecution was conducted, CPI(M) today demanded the verdict be appealed and the case "strongly pursued" in a higher court.
"The Central Committee demands that the verdict be appealed and the case strongly pursued in the higher court," the party said in a statement after the two day Central Committee met which concluded on Sunday.
All 16 accused Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel in the 1987 Hashimpura massacre case were acquitted by a Delhi court of charges related to the killing of 42 Muslims who were picked up from a village in UP's Meerut district, with the judge giving them benefit of doubt.

"The acquittal in the Hashimpura (Meerut) massacre case in which 42 people were killed has angered those who had wanted to see that justice is done in this police atrocity.
"The acquittal due to insufficient evidence highlights the callous manner in which the prosecution of those guilty for communal killings is being conducted," the party said.
The court has referred the case to the Delhi State Legal Services Authority for rehabilitation of victims who have been truly identified.

All the 16 accused, who have been acquitted, were Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel at the time of the incident.
According to the prosecution, PAC personnel had come to village Hashimpura on May 22, 1987, and picked up about 50 Muslims as a congregation of 500 had gathered outside a mosque there.

The victims were shot by the accused personnel and their bodies thrown into a canal, it had said, adding 42 persons were declared to have perished in the massacre.