16 policemen get life sentence in 31-year-old Uttar Pradesh massacre case

While delivering the judgement, the High court called the Hashimpura massacre in Meerut as "targeted killing" of unarmed and defenceless persons.

The high court convicted the 16 former Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel for murder, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence. All of them have to surrender on or before November 22.

"This is a case of targeted killing of members of the minority community by state forces. The statements of the accused prove their presence beyond reasonable doubt. The compensation paid and conviction after 31 years is still a miscarriage of justice for the victims," the court said.

The killings took place in 1987 during a riot in Meerut when the victims were picked up from the Hashimpura by the PAC during a search operation. The charge-sheet was filed in 1996.

The Supreme Court transferred the case to Delhi in 2002 following a petition by the families of the massacre victims and survivors.

However, in March, 2015, a trial court acquitted the 16 giving them benefit of doubt, saying their identification could not be established due to lack of evidence while one died during the trial. All the 16 convicts have retired from service.

The verdict was challenged by Uttar Pradesh, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and some others including a survivor of the massacre in the Delhi High Court.