New Delhi, Apr 17 (ANI): Social activist Swami Agnivesh on Tuesday expressed shock over acquittal of 23 persons accused of killing 21dalits in the 1996 Bhojpur massacre case in Bihar by the Bihar High Court.
Appealing to the Supreme Court of India, Agnivesh said that the apex court should take suo moto cognisance of the judgment, issue stay order on it and reexamine the case and punish the guilty.
"We appeal to the Chief Justice of the Supreme court of India to take suo moto cognisance of this appalling judgment, stay it forthwith and reexamine the case and punish the guilty by upholding the highest traditions of Indian Judiciary," said Agnivesh.
He added that the Chief Justice of India should take steps to restore the health of Indian justice system.
"The Chief Justice should also take steps towards restoring the health of Indian Justice System so that perpetrator of such brazen massacres so not go scot free in future. Otherwise people will loose faith in our justice system with disastrous consequences," he added.
A Division Bench of judges Navneeti Prasad Singh and Ashwani Kumar Singh cited "defective evidence" to acquit all the accused.
A sessions court in Bihar had earlier sentenced three prime accused to capital punishment and the remaining 20 accused to life imprisonment in May 2010.
The incident took place on July 11, 1996 when upper caste (Rajput and Bhumihar) landowners of the Ranvir Sena - a private militia of the landlords - stormed Bathani Tola in Bhojpur District and ruthlessly hacked the Dalits, including women, teenage girls and babies less than 10 months old. (ANI)
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Read More: Bhojpur | Supreme Court | Delhi High Court | Swami Ram Tirth Nagar | Bhojpur Nuri | Ramnagar Bhojpur | Simarra Bhojpur | Bhojpur Tharu | Ram Gulam Tola | Baroda Swami | Bhojpur Najik | Naya Tola | Hulasi Tola | Jivrakhan Tola | Neknam Tola | Purana Bhojpur | Naya Bhojpur | Tola Achraj Lal | Tola Sohan Rai | Bathani
Comments:
Priya
April 19, 2012 at 2:51 PM
For the first time in my life I hate my country.
How can a group of people who massacred babies and women just because they belong to the so called lower caste go scot free.
How can the entire system turn a blind eye to this?
There has been so much talk about media not having enough dalit representation. The coverage of this verdict makes me agree.
The Hindu carried it in the front page. No other newspaper did I think. Even the electronic media, hungry for hourly "Breaking News" bothered to.
Or is justice only reserved for the Jessicas? Will candle light vigils be held only for pretty-faced models?
Why are not TV channels running a campaign and fight for justice?
Is it because the relatives of those Dalits killed are neither photogenic nor media-savvy like Sabrina Lal and can't be regarded news worthy?
Wonder how many in the media sector belong to the upper caste (like the Rajputs and Bhumihars involved in the massacre.
I wont be surprised if the judges who pronounced the verdict too belong to that caste.