Hashimpura massacre: Rifles given to PAC

NEW DELHI: The 18 rifles used byProvincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) jawans to allegedly mow down 42 Muslims ofMohalla Hashimpura at Meerut in 1987 have been redistributed among the personnelof the force, much to the surprise of the trial judge.The shiftingof the case property, a vital evidence, from the custody of the investigatingagency has put a question mark on the fate of the 19-year-old case transferredto Delhi from Ghaziabad on the orders of the Supreme Court in2002.The rifles had been sent to CFSL, Hyderabad for forensicanalysis and the report has already come.Additional Sessions Judge NP Kaushik, who sought to see the case property on the second day of the trial onJuly 22, was shocked to know that the rifles had been redistributed among thejawans of 41-B Vahini Battalion of the PAC. Incidentally, the accused alsobelonged to the same Battalion.The court has asked Special PublicProsecutor S Adhlakha and Additional SP of CB-CID, Meerut to produce the riflesin court on July 31, the next date of hearing.It also sought to knowwho gave the order to return the weapons to PAC.Legal experts aredivided on the issue calling it either a "destruction of evidence" or "anunintentional foolish act" on the part of the investigatingagency."This is destruction of evidence and is punishable under thelaw," senior lawyer PN Lekhi said.