The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Tsundur case verdict on July 31

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Thursday, Jul 19, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Tsundur case verdict on July 31

Staff Reporter

Arguments in the long-drawn case end

TSUNDUR (GUNTUR): The long-drawn legal battle for justice in the August 1991 Tsundur massacre case will finally come to an end with judgment in the case to be pronounced by Special Court Under the SC/STs Prevention of (Atrocities) Act 1989 Judge Anis on July 31.

Three months of prolonged arguments by Special Public Prosecutor B. Chandrasekhar and the defence lawyers came to an end on Wednesday, while the case had been running for nearly 16 years in the country’s first-ever Special Court set up at the venue of atrocity. Eight persons were killed and five injured in the August 6 massacre for which 219 accused were chargesheeted, out of whom 33 died and seven persons were separated as police did not find any evidence against them. Currently 179 accused are facing trial.

Guntur Superintendent of Police Mahesh Chandra Ladha said that special arrangements would be made on July 31 for controlling the crowds that were likely to converge on the small village. It would also arrange a police picket and depending on the outcome of the case the accused would be either freed or taken to jail. Seventy witnesses were produced by the prosecution and nine by the defence. Thirty charges were framed against the accused ranging from conspiracy to annihilate dalits of Tsundur Malapalle, murder and causing disappearance of evidence. Several aspects related to the case were fought in High Court and Supreme Court during these 16 years including change of place for trial.

High Court appointed a special public prosecutor B. Chnadrasekhar and assistant public prosecutor G.S. Nageswara Rao following plea from dalits.

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