22nd May (1987) brings bitter memories when Hashimpura massacre took place where 42 innocent Muslim youths were killed by Indian armed forces and no justice was ever delivered. Hashimpura became red with the blood of innocent. It is undoubtedly one of the most brutal cases of state-sponsored violence against Muslims in independent India. It all happened in the month of Ramzan.

In February 1986 centre government ordered that Babri Masjid’s locks be opened and after that, the situation in the Uttar Pradesh state had become intense. Riots and killings were reported in many districts of the Uttar Pradesh. By April-May in 1987, many vehicles, shops and homes were set on fire and armed forces were called.

The Hashimpura massacre was mass murder incident of Muslims, which took place on 22 May 1987 near Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, during the 1987 Meerut communal riots. Congress was ruling the state of Uttar Pradesh during this period. 19 personnel of the Provincial Armed Constabulary rounded up 42 innocent Muslim youths from the Hashimpura mohalla (locality) of the Meerut city in the middle of the night and took them to the outskirts of the city, shot them in cold blood and dumped their bodies in a nearby irrigation canal.

Read also – From Hashimpura to Kashi Vishwanath – State Policing Serving the Brahminical Hindutva

A few days later, the dead bodies were found floating in the canal and a case of murder was registered. Eventually, 19 men were accused of having performed this heinous crime. In May 2000, 16 of the 19 accused surrendered and were later released on bail, the other three accused had died in the intervening period. In 2002, the Supreme Court of India ordered that the case trial be transferred from the Ghaziabad district court to a Sessions Court at the Tis Hazari complex in Delhi.

Government agencies did everything to save criminals. After almost 30 years, on 21 March 2015, all of the 16 men accused in the Hashimpura massacre case of 1987 were acquitted Tis Hazari Court due to insufficient evidence. It was another case of denial of justice to minority communities in India.

All the accused of Hashimpura massacre were released by the court but then WHO KILLED those 42 innocent Muslims? Is there any justice for Dalits and Minority communities in Brahmin India? Such an incident of the barbaric use of brute state force to kill minority communities must be condemned and justice should be delivered. We can never forget the injustice and crimes committed against minorities. Pledge to fight for justice for Hashimpura massacre victims.

Image credit – Praveen Jain

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