New Delhi, Oct 31 (PTI) The following is the chronology of events relating to 1987 Hashimpura Massacre case leading up to the Delhi High Court on Wednesday sentencing 16 ex-policemen to life imprisonment for killing 42 people of a minority community in Uttar Pradesh.
- 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.
