Hathras: A special court in Hathras has acquitted seven accused of charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in a case registered in 2016, holding that the incident occurred inside a shop and the essential requirement of public view was not established.
However, the court found all seven accused guilty of rioting, assault, criminal intimidation and causing injuries with dangerous weapons. Special Judge (SC/ST Act) Harsh Agrawal ordered their release on six months’ probation, subject to the condition that they maintain peace and do not engage in any unlawful activity during the period.
The case dates back to July 5, 2016, when Mahipal, a resident of Nagla Bhage in Sikandra Rao, lodged a complaint at the Sikandra Rao police station. Mahipal, who operated a clothes-washing and ironing shop in Brahmanpuri locality, alleged that seven men had visited his shop and entered into an altercation over a delay in preparing their clothes.
According to the complaint, the accused assaulted Mahipal and allegedly used casteist slurs against him. The complainant further alleged that people who intervened to stop the assault were also beaten.
The accused were identified as Aman, Neetu, Parvez, Sameer, Nadeem, Musahid and Sunil.
The court assessed witness testimonies and medical examination reports before holding the accused guilty of the offences relating to rioting, assault, intimidation and causing injuries with dangerous weapons.
However, while examining the charges under the SC/ST Act, the court observed that the incident had taken place within the private confines of the shop and that no independent public witness was present. It held that the requirement of the incident occurring in public view had not been established, leading to the acquittal of all seven accused under the Act.
