Agra (UP), May 30 (UNI) A special SC ST court on Friday sentenced 35 convicts to five years rigorous jail term along with Rs 41,000 fine in the communal violence that took place in Kagaraul during the infamous Panwari village incident of 1990, prosecution sources said here.
It may be noted that the court of Special Judge Pushkar Upadhyay had convicted these accused two days ago. "After the court order, 32 were sent to jail. Non-bailable warrants were issued for three convicts who failed to appear before the court. 15 accused had already been acquitted due to lack of evidence. 22 accused died during the trial of this case which lasted for 34 years," they said.
Prosecution sources said that the court sentenced the convicts under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting while armed with weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly) and 310. "All the accused are residents of Akola area. After the court's decision, the family members of the convicts said that they would challenge the decision in the High Court," they said.
It may be noted that on June 21, 1990, a conflict broke out between the people of Jat and Jatav community on the issue of taking out a marriage procession of a youth belonging to the Scheduled Caste in Panwari village under Sikandra police station. "On June 22, the dispute took a violent turn when the marriage procession was taken out in the presence of police. The PAC along with the police used force. Soni Ram Jat died due to bullet injuries in the firing," they said.
Prosecution sources said that after this, violence broke out in the surrounding villages. "On June 24, 1990, people belonging to the SC and Jat community came face to face at 1 pm in village Akola. "A woman died and more than 150 were injured in the conflict that lasted for one and a half hours. Curfew was imposed for about 10 days and the army was also deployed along with the police," they said.
Prosecution sources said a case was registered against more than 200 people in the matter. "After investigation, a charge sheet was filed against 72 accused. While one of the deceased could not be identified," they said.
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