NBW against 12 former cops

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Thursday issued non-bailable warrants (NBW) against 12 ex-policemen of Uttar Pradesh after they failed to surrender before it to serve life term awarded to them for the killing 42 people of a minority community in Hashimpura locality of Meerut in 1987. The Delhi High Court had awarded life imprisonment to 16 ex-policemen, all of whom have retired, and had directed them to surrender on or before November 22. Additional sessions judge Smita Garg sent the remaining four convicts to Tihar central jail after they surrendered before the court as per October 31 directions of the High Court. The convicts -- Jaipal Singh, Mahesh Pratap Singh, Sami Ullal Khan and Niranjan Lal -- were taken into custody after they surrendered before the court.

“Since the remaining 12 convicts have failed to surrender in compliance of the order dated October 31, passed by the High Court, let NBW (non-bailable warrant) be issued against them and notice to their respective sureties,” the court said.

The HC had on October 31 sentenced the 16 former Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel to life imprisonment in the case, reversing a trial court’s verdict which had acquitted the accused. They were convicted for murder, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence under the Indian Penal Code.