A court in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut has exonerated 40 accused in 1987 Maliana communal clashes cases that left 63 people dead and hundreds injured.

Communal riots erupted in Maliana on May 23, 1987, following clashes in nearby Hashimpura on May 22 of that year in the aftermath of the April 14 communal violence in the city on the occasion of Shab-e-Baraat that left 12 people dead.

The riots in Maliana left 63 people dead while 42 people were killed in the Hashimpura violence.

A sessions court in Meerut on Saturday acquitted 40 people accused of arson, murder and rioting, citing lack of evidence in the 36-year-old case. However, the victims’ family has said they would challenge the acquittal in the high court.

Representing the accused, Advocate CL Bansal said the accused were exonerated due to lack of evidence against them.

He said that more than 800 dates were taken for hearing in 36-year-old case and only 25 witnesses out of the original 74 remain as some have passed while others have moved to other places.

After hearing both sides, Additional District and Sessions Judge Lakhwinder Sood acquitted the 40 accused citing lack of evidence.

Speaking to reporters, Additional District Government Advocate (ADGC) Sachin Mohan said that on May 24, 1987, based on a complaint by Yakub Ali, a case was registered against 93 people—named and unnamed—for the communal clashes that happened at Meerut’s Maliana Holi Chowk on May 23, 1987 in which 63 people were killed and over 100 others injured.

Advocate Mohan said 40 of the original accused have since died while the others, who are unnamed in the FIR, could not be traced.

In his complaint, Yakub Ali had alleged that the accused opened fire on people and committed arson in the locality, Mohan said, adding that 10 witnesses, including the plaintiff, testified in the court, but the prosecution was unsuccessful in proving the case against the accused on the basis of sufficient evidence.

He said that the court, after observing the testimony of the witnesses and the evidence on file, ordered the acquittal of 40 accused, giving them the benefit of doubt.

Meanwhile, the family of the victims’ have said they will challenge the acquittal in the high court. Mahtab (40) a family member of one of the victims, said that his father Ashraf was shot dead during the Maliana riots without any reason and “the decision of the court is not just”, adding that he will appeal in the high court soon after holding talks with other families (of victims)”.

Afzal Saifi (45), family member of another victim whose father Yasin Saifi was reportedly shot and killed while on his way home and his body dumped near a sugar mill, said he would appeal against the court’s verdict in the high court.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC have been imposed and internet services have been snapped in parts of Hooghly district in West Bengal to prevent any untoward incident following clashes between two groups during a Ram Navami rally, officials said today.

On Sunday evening, two Ram Navami processions—one in Rishra police station area and the other near Wellington Jute Mill More on GT Road— reportedly came under attack resulting in clashes between two groups in which some police personnel were also injured, police said.

A PTI report quoting BJP state vice-president Dilip Ghosh, who was part of the rally on GT Road, claimed that the procession was peacefully heading towards the Jagannath temple when it came under attack as a barrage of stones were hurled at the devotees in the rally.

He said that Pursurah BJP MLA Biman Ghosh sustained injuries in the incident.

Officials at the Chandannagar Police Commissionerate said the procession was passing through a traditional route when a group started hurling stones at it, adding that the police took immediate action to address the situation, however, no arrests have been made so far in connection with the incident.

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They said that prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 have been imposed in Rishra wards 1-5 and Serampore’s ward 24 while internet services will remain shut in parts of Rishra and Serampore till 10 pm on Monday, adding the police are conducting route marches through affected areas and security has been heightened to prevent any flare-up.

West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose in a statement issued a stern warning to those found involved in inciting riots, saying that “miscreants, hooligans and thugs” will be “crushed with an iron hand” and mobocracy won’t be allowed to run riot…. “State is determined to put an end to this arson and looting.”

Bengal Industry Minister Shashi Panja condemned the incident and claimed that the BJP was attempting incite communal riots across the country for electoral gains, adding that perpetrators of the violence will be found and punished as per law of the land.

45 people were arrested as clashes rocked Ram Navami celebrations in  neighbouring Howrah district on Thursday and Friday.

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A disturbing story has come to light from the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras where a 32-year-old PhD student died by suicide. The victim, identified as Sachin, was found in his room at the IIT.

Hours prior to the suicide, the student had shared a WhatsApp status where he reportedly apologised for not being good enough. After seeing the status of the victim, his friend rushed to his house in Chennai’s Velachery and found his body hanging in his room.

As per the reports, the victim hailing from West Bengal was pursuing his PhD from the Mechanical Engineering Department IIT. An ambulance was also called, however, the student was pronounced dead upon examination by the doctors.

Following the IIT student’s suicide, the IIT released a statement that read that they are deeply anguished to convey the passing away of a PhD Research scholar from the Mechanical Engineering Department. The statement also said that the victim had an exemplary academic and research record and further termed his passing as a big loss for the research community.

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The statement further added and condoled the demise of the victim with his friends and family. The Institute further urged everyone to respect the privacy of the student’s family at this difficult time and wished for the deceased soul to rest in peace.

The suicide by the PhD student marks the third suicide on the IIT campus. As per the reports, a student studying mechanical engineering turned to suicide inside the hostel located on the college premises. The victim was identified as Stephen Sunny, a native of Maharashtra, and was in the second year of his master’s program.

As per the reports, the friends of the 24-year-old student on knocked the door of his hostel room, however, after receiving no response from him the students alerted the warden. After learning about the issue, the hostel warden stepped in and broke open the door, and found his body hanging from the ceiling of the room.

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