Hashimpura massacre: Eyewitnesses seek protection, Delhi High Court issues notice

The eyewitnesses in their plea claimed that they were “living with deep rooted fear” of reprisals and other witnesses, including the driver of the truck allegedly used in the incident, had not deposed correctly during the trial due to the fear.

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They said that they “can reveal true facts provided they are given protection”. The plea, filed through advocate Mushtaq Ahmed, sought court orders to “protect and re-examine injured eyewitnesses and other vital witnesses” who had “intentionally not been called by the prosecution in the trial”.

The bench is in the process of hearing appeals against the acquittal of the PAC personnel, who were allegedly responsible for the murder of 42 Muslim men during communal tensions in Meerut in 1987.

The UP government as well as the NHRC have also filed appeals against the acquittal. The cases are now scheduled for hearing in December. The chargesheet was filed before Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ghaziabad in 1996.

The case was transferred to Delhi in September 2002 on the order of the Supreme Court following a petition by the families of the massacre victims and survivors.