Hashimpura trial takes a turn, third witness turns hostile

The prosecution case in the 20-year-old Hashimpura massacre received a setback today when third eyewitness Mohamad Usman failed to identify the 16 accused present in the court, as “it was too dark on the shooting day to remember the faces.” Usman, shot at twice during the Hashimpura massacre on May 22, 1987, was cross-examined by defence counsel R S Mallik. The witness claimed that the statement made to the police in 1987 was made by him “under pressure and threat to life.” Moreover, since the Prosecution said it did not have the copy of his statement, the court was undecided on the authenticity or validity of Usman’s statement. ASJ NP Kaushik said the statement made to the police in 1987 “is open to objection and will be decided on a later date.” The Investigating Official who recorded this statement has died. There are 5 surviving witnesses from the alleged police massacre following a riot in Hashimpura near Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.