The Uttar Pradesh Government on Friday moved the Delhi High Court, challenging a court’s verdict in the 1987 Hashimpura massacre case acquitting 16 police personnel accused of killing 42 Muslim men in Meerut. The Uttar Pradesh Government filed the appeal against the March 21 trial court order which acquitted 16 Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel of the charges dealing with murder, attempt to murder, tampering with evidence and conspiracy.
The Government alleged that there are “lapses” in the judgment of trial court, which also “overlooked” the statements of survivors. Suresh Chand Sharma, Niranjan lal, Kamal Singh, Rambir Singh, Sami Ullah, Mahesh Prasad, Jaipal Singh, Ram Dhayam, Sarwan Kumar, leela Dhar, Hambir Singh, Kunwar Pazal Singh, Budha Singh, Budhi Singh, Mokham Singh and Basant Vallabh who were facing the trial in 27-year-old massacre were acquitted in the case. The trial court freed all the accused from all charges framed against them by giving them the “benefit of doubt” for want of sufficient evidence regarding their identity.