UP govt announces Rs 5 lakh each to kin of Hashimpura victims

The Uttar Pradesh government today announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to families affected in Hashimpura and Maliyana incidents in Meerut district in 1987.
"The government has announced a financial assistance of Rs five lakh each to the affected families," an official spokesman said.
The announcement came a day after the state government decided to challenge the 1987 Hashimpura massacre case verdict in Delhi High Court, almost two months after a sessions court gave benefit of doubt and acquitted 16 former PAC personnel accused of killing 48 people in Meerut.
"We expect the appeal to be filed on May 22 or May 25," Additional Advocate General Zafaryab Jilani told PTI after a meeting of Muslim leaders here with ruling Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Jeelani said a draft of the appeal has already been sent to the lawyers concerned in Delhi and the appeal will be filed immediately after getting their opinion.
"The state government wants to file the petition as soon as possible. Therefore, all efforts are on to ensure that it is filed before May 29, that is, before the court closes for summer recess," he said.

Earlier, a delegation of Hashimpura victims met SP chief.
"Yadav has assured us that SP government will challenge the verdict of lower court in High Court," Maulana Arshad Rashidi of Jamiat-ulama-e-Hind had said after the meeting.

Yadav had promised to give Rs 5 lakh compensation to five victims.