Witnesses heard, final argument to begin

Prosecution witness Dr Subodh Tyagi was ‘recalled’ by the court Tuesday and ‘further’ examined in the case.

Twenty-seven years after Hashimpura massacre during communal riots in UP’s Meerut district, a Delhi court on Tuesday examined the last prosecution witness in the case and will now start hearing final arguments.

Prosecution witness Dr Subodh Tyagi was ‘recalled’ by the court Tuesday and ‘further’ examined in the case.

Dr Tyagi was working as a medical officer at SVBP Hospital in Meerut in May 1987 when the alleged incident took place.

According to the prosecutor, it is alleged that Leela Dhar, PAC constable, had admitted himself in the SVBP Hospital on 23 May, 1987 when he sustained an eye injury during the alleged incident when 19 accused PAC constables took about fifty muslim labourers in a van from Hashimpura Mohalla in Meerut to the Upper Ganga canal in Murad Nagar, Ghaziabad, and allegedly shot them.

The doctor was recalled to examine the original documents which contained entries made by the hospital officials of the constable’s admission.

“These documents were not recorded. The UP officials had not even forwarded photocopies. This is why the doctor has been called to examine the original documents,” said Senior Public Prosecutor Satish Tamta.

On Tuesday, the store keeper of the record room of SBVP Hospital, Meerut produced the original casualty admission register and the original accident register that contained the entries made by the hospital of ‘patient’ Leela Dhar.

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“I have seen the above mentioned original accident register. The page 76, pertaining to the patient is in my handwriting and the copy of the same bears my signature,” Subodh Tyagi said.

Subodh Tyagi told the court that he gave the inquiry report as a general medical officer and not as an ‘eye’ specialist.

“Although the patient was referred to a eye surgeon. I am not aware if any report was received subsequently from the eye specialist,” he said.

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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