98 undertrials in Mirchpur case shifted from Hisar to Tihar Jail

A total of the 98 accused in the case were shifted to Tihar from Hisar following a court order. Of the 103 accused in the case,five are juveniles,while one is out on bail. An application was also moved before the court by the accused,requesting it to reconsider its January 4 order on their shift from Haryana to Delhi. The date for hearing their application has been fixed on January 20.

Meanwhile,the court declared one of the accused juvenile and transferred him to an observation home in Hisar. The apex court had,in December,directed that the case,relating to the murders of a 70-year-old Dalit man and his physically challenged daughter by a mob of over 100 upper caste people in the village on April 21,be transferred to the special court in Delhi to ensure a free and fair trial. It had also said the Delhi court will be free to re-examine witnesses already examined by the court in Hisar.

The apex court passed the order after examining the affidavits filed by two court-appointed advocates,who had submitted that the witnesses were under constant threat due to the hostile atmosphere created by the accused.