On this day May 22 1987 one of the darkest chapters in modern Indian history unfolded. During a time of severe communal unrest in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, members of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) rounded up a group of Muslim men from the Hashimpura neighborhood. Instead of taking them into custody, they were transported outside the city, shot, and their bodies dumped into a canal and nearby river.
It is estimated that 350 people were killed in the massacre. The event drew international condemnation and led to decades of legal battles. Despite clear evidence and survivor testimonies, justice was delayed for nearly thirty years. In 2018 a court convicted 16 former PAC personnel, holding them accountable for the killings.
Fun fact: The massacre was not widely covered in the West at the time, but it is now considered a major case in discussions about police violence and communal tensions in India.
It is estimated that 350 people were killed in the massacre. The event drew international condemnation and led to decades of legal battles. Despite clear evidence and survivor testimonies, justice was delayed for nearly thirty years. In 2018 a court convicted 16 former PAC personnel, holding them accountable for the killings.
Fun fact: The massacre was not widely covered in the West at the time, but it is now considered a major case in discussions about police violence and communal tensions in India.
