‘Most chilling murder in free India’

Counsel for victims’ families Rebecca John, Vrinda Grover submitted a number of “clinching evidence”.

The victim’s counsel in the 1987 Hashimpura massacre case submitted its final arguments Thursday, seeking maximum punishment for the 19 Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel accused of killing over 40 Muslim men in Meerut.

Counsel for the victims’ families Rebecca John and Vrinda Grover submitted a number of “clinching evidence” to establish the charges. “This has been the most chilling and horrific custodial murder that occurred in the history of independent India. It is a slap on the face of families that they are still waiting for justice. Maximum punishment should be given to the accused,” said John.

Submitting testimonies of five survivors who are eyewitnesses, John said their statements corroborate the crime.

“The crime was committed in two parts. One, when three men were killed and their bodies thrown into the Upper Ganga Nagar canal. Survivor Zulfiqar Nasir has deposed that Yaseen, Ashraf and another person were shot and thrown into the canal. To corroborate this, three survivors Naeem, Usman and Mujib have corroborated in the exact manner in which they were murdered,” said the counsel.

The counsel then referred to the testimony of survivor Babbudin, who was witness to the second incident in which some men were reportedly thrown into Hindol canal.

Kaunain Sheriff M

As City Editor ( Delhi) at the Indian Express, Kaunain Sheriff leads city reporting with a sharp focus on accountability journalism, data-driven stories, and ground-level impact. As the National Health Editor he leads the newsroom’s in-depth coverage of pressing health issues. He is the author of Johnson & Johnson Files: The Indian Secrets of a Global Giant, a definitive investigation into the accountability of one of the world’s most powerful pharmaceutical corporations. Areas of Expertise Investigative Reporting: Has deep expertise in investigative reporting spanning public health, regulatory affairs, drug safety, and the criminal justice system. His work sits at the intersection of governance, law, and accountability, with a particular focus on how regulatory failures, institutional lapses, and policy decisions affect citizens’ rights and safety. Data Journalism: Has extensively on big data–driven investigations, including analyses of flagship government schemes and large datasets on criminal trials, uncovering systemic gaps. Global Collaborations Kaunain is a key contributor to major international journalistic projects: The Implant Files: Collaborated with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) to expose global malpractices in the medical device industry. Chinese Big-Data Investigation: Uncovered how a foreign data firm monitored thousands of prominent Indian institutions and individuals in real-time. Awards & Recognition His commitment to "Journalism of Courage" has been recognized with the industry's highest honors: Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism SOPA Award (Society of Publishers in Asia) Red Ink Award (Mumbai Press Club) Indian Express Excellence Awards (Triple recipient for investigations into the NSA abuse in UP, Vyapam scam, and the anti-Sikh riots). Education: Studied Mechanical Engineering at Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Bangalore, before moving to Delhi to pursue his passion for journalism. His engineering training informs his analytical approach, enabling him to decode technical, legal, and data-heavy systems with precision. Social media LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kaunain-sheriff-3a00ab99 X ( fromerly Twitter): @kaunain_s ... Read More

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1987 Hashimpura massacre