It has been 33 years since the night of 22 May, 1987 when nearly 50 Muslim men from Hashimpura, a settlement in Meerut were rounded up and packed into the rear of a truck of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), an armed police of Uttar Pradesh. It was the blessed month of Ramadan and all the Muslims were fasting.
That night 42 of those on board the truck were killed in two massacres in neighbouring Ghaziabad district. One along the Upper Ganga canal near Muradnagar, the other along the Hindon canal in Makanpur, on the border with Delhi.
The cops had returned home after dumping the dead bodies into the canal. A few days later, the dead bodies were found floating in the canal and a case of murder was registered.
Vir Bahadur Singh was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister of India when this incident took place.
Not much has changed for the survivors and the relatives of the victims even today. The wounds are still fresh. Hashimpura remains devoid of basic municipal amenities, the erring silence on the narrow lanes of the locality amid the activities of a daily life speaks of the horror of the fateful day in 1987.
The massacre was the result of one among the many outcomes of the decision taken by the Rajiv Gandhi government to open the locks of Babri Masjid. After a month of rioting, the situation was tense in various parts of Meerut, and a lot spilled over in the nearby areas.
Timeline
May 22, 1987
Nearly 50 Muslims picked up by the PAC personnel from Hashimpura village in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
Victims later shot and bodies thrown into a 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 a 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, 2015
Court acquits 16 surviving accused giving them benefit of doubt regarding their identity.
May 18, 2015
Trial court decision challenged in the Delhi HC by the victims' families and eyewitnesses who survived the incident.
May 29, 2015
HC issues notice to the 16 PAC personnel on Uttar Pradesh government's appeal against the trial court verdict.
December 2015
National Human Rights Commission is impleaded in the matter. NHRC also seeks further probe into 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, 2018
Delhi HC convicts 16 former PAC personnel for life after finding them guilty of the murder of 42 people.
Speaking to media persons over the controversies regarding the Muslim personal law and central government's attempt to implement uniform civil code, he said that there is lot of misconceptions in the society about polygamy and talaq.
Comments
Mr. Modi spends time at RSS ashram not with his wife.
100% ....no doubt
Well said Mr. Kodi....
Many people who think their view is intelligent than the divine rule...
Are really unaware of their ignorance....
They should read what sharia law is and how triple talaq is implemented if the couple doesnt go along with each other rather than making a big issue by just taking and joining hands with the Haters who alwz try to demonize the divine law...
It is the mercy of ALLAH. that Muslims and non muslims are learning the Divine law and I request all to compare divine law by yourself with the man made law...
Under the sharia law Muslim women's are happy it is a divine law not man made law to be changed. In islam women's have more respect and living with dignity and modesty. If you go through the survey you can find more divorce and more than one wife in other religions. Only handful self styled Muslim women's without islamic knowledge with the help of few vested interest try to defame the sharia law and trying to apply the common civil code in the country. UCC is a drama and the hidden agenda of sangh parivar and its paid anti muslim channels and media to divert the attention of NDA's failure and bring the Ache din to the people. If they really concerned the welfare of muslim women they can empower educationally and economically without any type discrimination.
Really appreciated comment.....who don't know about a family cannot have sentiments towards anyone....he don't know what is love .... what he knows is written dialogues by others....
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