Hashimpura case: HC seeks UP govt response on Subramanian Swamy's plea

NEW DELHI: Delhi High Court today sought the Uttar Pradesh Government's response on BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's plea seeking further probe to ascertain the alleged role of P Chidambaram, who was Minister of State for Home during the 1987 Hashimpura massacre that had claimed 42 lives.

A bench of justices G S Sistani and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal also sought replies of all 16 acquitted police persons on appeals by state of UP, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and some private parties including Zulfiqar Nasir, a survivor of the massacre, against a trial court's order.

The trial court had acquitted the accused policemen of charges of murder and other alleged offences in the case.

The bench has listed the matters for hearing on May 19.

In its plea, NHRC has sought further probe into the massacre in the Hashimpura locality of Meerut. Prior to NHRC, UP government as well as survivors and kin of the victims had moved the court challenging the acquittal of these policemen.

In his plea, Swamy has also challenged the trial court's March 8, 2013 decision dismissing his plea against Chidambaram, who was the Minister between 1986 and 1989.

Swamy has sought further probe saying, "It was admitted on the floor of Parliament by the then Minister of State for Home Affairs P Chidambaram that the situation was calm on May 19 to May 22, 1987.

"Yet the trial judge states it was violent strife. Hence, even at this late stage, an investigation into this issue is essential for complete justice."

The trial court had in March 2013 dismissed Swamy's plea for further probe to ascertain Chidambaram's role in the incident, saying he has no locus standi and it is only the police which can move an application for further probe.

On March 21 last year, a trial court gave the benefit of doubt and acquitted 16 former Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel accused of killing 42 people in Meerut, saying lack of evidence has failed to establish their identification.

Nineteen people were named as accused and charged for offences of murder, attempt to murder, tampering with evidence and conspiracy were framed against 17 of them by the court here in 2006, after the case was transferred to Delhi on a Supreme Court direction in September 2002 following a petition by the families of the massacre victims and survivors.

The 16 accused acquitted in the case are the ones still alive. Three other accused died during the trial.