The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment 16 personnel of the Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) for killing 42 people in the 1987 Hashimpura massacre in Meerut.
In May 1987, 50 Muslims were picked up by PAC personnel from Hashimpura village in Meerut, UP. 42 of them were later shot and their bodies were thrown into a canal.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment 16 personnel of the Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) for killing 42 people in the 1987 Hashimpura massacre in Meerut.
The following is the chronology of events relating to 1987 Hashimpura Massacre case leading up to the Delhi High Court's judgement:
May 22, 1987: 50 Muslims picked up allegedly by Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel from Hashimpura village in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
Victims later shot and bodies thrown into canal. 42 persons declared dead.
1988: UP government orders CB-CID probe in the case.
February 1994: CB-CID submits inquiry report indicting over 60 PAC and police personnel of all ranks.
May 20, 1996: Charge sheet filed against 19 accused before Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ghaziabad by CB-CID of Uttar Pradesh police. 161 people listed as witnesses.
September 2002: Case transferred to Delhi by the Supreme Court on petition by the families of victims and survivors.
July 2006: Delhi court frames charges of murder, attempt to murder, tampering with evidence and conspiracy under the IPC against 17 accused.
March 8, 2013: Trial court dismisses Subramanian Swamy's plea seeking probe into the alleged role of P Chidambaram, then Minister of State for Home, in the matter.
January 22, 2015: Trial court reserves judgement.
March 21: Court acquits 16 surviving accused giving them benefit of doubt regarding their identity.
May 18: Trial court decision challenged in the Delhi HC by the victims' families and eyewitnesses who survived the incident.
May 29: HC issues notice to the 16 PAC personnel on Uttar Pradesh government's appeal against the trial court verdict.
December: National Human Rights Commission is impleaded in the matter. NHRC also seeks further probe in to the massacre.
February 17, 2016: HC tags Swamy's appeal with the other petitions in the matter.
September 6, 2018: Delhi HC reserves verdict in the case.
October 31: Delhi HC convicts 16 former PAC personnel for life after finding them guilty of murder of 42 people, terming the massacre as "targeted killing" of unarmed and defenceless people by the police.
PTI