In a groundbreaking judgement, a Kanpur court acquitted 45 people accused of a 27-year-old rioting case due to lack of evidence. The case relates to violent protests in 1998 that resulted in the death of a police gunner in the city. After such prolonged legal struggles, a huge turnaround has come with this judgement.
Background of the 1998 Riots
The riots began in Kanpur on March 16, 1998, after an incident involving the Imam of a local mosque. The Imam was allegedly beaten up in public by a police constable. This incident occurred during an impromptu power outage during a religious program at the mosque, which further sparked anger.
This sparked protests, with hundreds of residents gathering at Halim College Crossing. The agitation quickly spread to nearby areas like Chamanganj and Raipurwa, further fanning the flames due to angry protest meetings. What began as a peaceful protest turned riotous and resulted in the death of a police gunner.
Legal Proceedings and Challenges
After the riots, the police detected numerous individuals arrested on charges of rioting, arson, and murder. Eighty-five accused persons were listed in the case, but due to lengthy proceedings, over the years, 40 had died, with 45 people then put to trial.
The trial was troubled by delays owing to time-consuming collection of evidence, testimony of witnesses, and plain procedural challenges. The trial dragged on for almost three decades, culminating in the verdict.
The Acquittal Verdict
On March 2, 225, the Kanpur court delivered its ruling that all the 45 remaining accused persons should be acquitted due to lack of strong evidence. The court opined that the prosecution could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, so all accused were acquitted.
This judgement reflects the challenges of prosecuting cases becoming stale, where evidence may deteriorate over time, and the memory of witnesses may fade.
Sentence Under Arms Act
While most people have been acquitted, four have been convicted under the Arms Act. The court convicted them and sentenced them to three years in prison for possession of illegal firearms during the riots. This part of the judgment is a testimony to the judiciary’s willingness to deal with a few offenses that can be substantiated by evidence, while all over the other complaints are dismissed.
Public Reactions to the Verdict
The acquittal brought mixed reactions from several quarters. Families of the accused expressed relief after an agonizing period and the social stigma resulting from the allegations. On the contrary, the relatives of the victims, including the deceased police gunner, expressed disappointment that justice had been delayed and denied.
Legal experts are quoted as saying that bad practices must be eradicated. It is essential to reform the court systems so that trials do not get delayed indefinitely.
Implications for the Judicial System
This case also serves as an eye-opener to the various demands and challenges the Indian judicial system is facing, particularly on the issue of the delay of the delivery of justice. The proverb “justice delayed is justice denied” fits all these cases aptly. Lengthy trials are very taxing for the judiciary’s resources and also have an impact on the lives of the accused and the families of victims.
There is an urgent need to reform the systemic work through the recruitment of additional judges, technical support for court offices, and the streamlining of court procedures to make justice effective and speedy.
The acquittal of the 45 people in a 27-year-old rioting case in Kanpur underscores the darker sides and challenges of the Indian judicial system. While the verdict will provide closure to the accused, it is indicative of the much-needed reforms, so that such protracted trials are no longer seen in the future.
Delaying justice could only lead to serious issues in ensuring the public’s trust in the legitimacy of the legal system and upholding the spirit of fairness and equity.
