Took 17 years for a verdict in Bhagalpur massacre of 116

The 116 people, including women and children, were killed on the night of October 27, 1989 at Logai village under Jagdishpur police station of the district. The victims were buried in a mass grave, promptly camouflaged by a cauliflower plantation.

Among those convicted are the then officer-in-charge of Jagdishpur police station, Ramchandra Singh, and chowkidar Thakur Paswan. Though there were 24 accused in the case, six died during the trial, while four never turned up, prompting the court to proclaim them absconders and order attachment of property.

Singh was charged with not taking action when the mob went on the rampage and tampering with evidence. The chowkidar was held guilty of suppressing information about the killings.

Of the 14 convicted, the order against Jaiprakash Mandal was passed in absentia as he did not turn up. This made the court issue a warrant of arrest against him.

Justice in this case was delayed primarily because the witnesses never reached the court in time and the police showed little interest in producing them. The accused kept absconding and the police failed to nab them.

The riots began when a “Ram shila” procession organised by a local Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader at the peak of the Ram Janmabhoomi campaign was allegedly attacked while passing through a Muslim neighbourhood. Violence soon engulfed several parts of Bhagalpur and adjoining Banka districts, leaving 1981 dead and scores maimed or homeless. At least 886 cases were registered, of which chargesheets have been submitted in 329.

Nearly a year after the Logai village massacre, the investigation was handed over to then DIG Ajit Dutt on December 3, 1990. “Within a week, 90 bodies were recovered and by December 15, altogether 105 were dug out. The rest had decomposed,” Dutt told The Indian Express today.

He said apart from communal feelings, grabbing the land belonging to Muslims was the prime reason behind the massacre. Before the riots, there were 45 Muslim families in Logai village; in 1990, only two remained. The status remains the same even today.

Bibi Shakina’s husband was one of those killed in Logai that night. She fled the village.

“This judgment means nothing for me. Will my husband return? I am still scared to go to Logai and cultivate my land but the district administration is doing nothing about it,” said Shakina.