Justice At Last!

COMMENTARY

After more than 31 years justice has at long last been delivered in the 1987 Hashimpura massacre of 42 Muslim men who were shot dead in cold blood by policemen belonging to the UP Provincial Armed Constabulary. What is noteworthy is that the Delhi High Court has overturned the trial court’s acquittal of the policemen in 2015 and 16 of them have been sentenced to life term in prison. This is quite a departure from what has become the norm over the years thereby perpetuating the reprehensible culture of impunity.

Communal and mob violence, chacterised by lynchings, can be curbed only if this culture of impunity is brought to an end. It is in this context that the Delhi High Court’s judgement on the Hashimpura massacre is most welcome as it sets a positive precedent.

But that is not all. As The Times of India editorially avers,

“It (the verdict) is also a warning to State goverments, such as the UP Government, which encourage the police to be trigger-happy.”

The judgement, even if it is belated, has the potential to disprove the old adage: “Justice Delayed is Justice Denied.” Or has it?

November 1 Observer