On Thursday, the Firozabad District Court found a 90-year-old man guilty of killing 10 Dalits and gave him a life sentence. Ganga Dayal, the defendant, was also required to pay a 55,000 fine.
The murders, which took place 42 years ago, shocked the entire nation.
In the case that the fine is not paid, the accused will be sentenced to an extra 13 months in prison, the court stated.
Rajeev Upadhyay, a government advocate, stated: “In 1981, there was unrest in the village of Sadupur, which resulted in 10 persons being ruthlessly slain and 2 people being injured. In relation to the occurrence, a case was opened. 10 individuals were named as suspects during the inquiry. Under IPC sections 302 and 307, the case was filed.
The case was initially heard in Mainpuri, but once Firozabad was divided into a distinct district, the case was moved to a court in Firozabad, according to advocate Upadhyay.
“The case was shifted to Firozabad as per the High Court’s directive after the creation of the Firozabad district. The only living defendant, Ganga Sahay, was found guilty and given a life sentence as well as a 55,000 rupee fine by the district court. The entire nation will receive a message from this ruling, the attorney claimed.
Maharaj Singh, a relative of one of the victims, claimed that although he was not alive at the time of the tragedy, his elders had told him that 6 people in his uncle’s area as well as 6 members of his own family had been slaughtered.
“After 42 years, the only remaining accused was found guilty and sentenced. It would have been preferable if it had happened when my family’s elders were still living and nine other accused people had also received punishment, he said.
Ten members of the Dalit caste were killed and two more were hurt in this case back in 1981. Against the 10 alleged defendants, a case was filed.
When this incident occurred, the Shikohabad police station was in the Mainpuri district. It later amalgamated with Firozabad once Mainpuri was established as a distinct district in 1989.
Following the investigation, the police presented ten suspects with a charge sheet in court. However, 9 of the defendants passed away throughout the trial.
