1981 Dihuli Massacre: UP Court Hands Death Penalty To 3 Convicts After 44-Year Trial

Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh: After a 44-year legal battle, a special robbery court in Mainpuri has sentenced three individuals to death for their role in the infamous Dihuli village massacre, where 24 people, including women and children, were brutally killed. While one convict remains absconding, the other two, currently in police custody, appeared in court today (March 18), maintaining their innocence.

The horrific incident took place on the evening of November 18, 1981, when a group of armed assailants stormed the SC colony in Dihuli village, under Jasrana police station limits in Firozabad. The attackers fired indiscriminately for three hours, killing 23 people on the spot. Another victim later succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment at a hospital in Firozabad.

Legal Battle Spanning Decades

Following the massacre, local resident Layak Singh filed a complaint with Jasrana police on November 19, naming over 20 accused, including Radheshyam alias Radhe, Santosh Chauhan, Ramsevak, Ravindra Singh, and others. Police launched an investigation and filed a chargesheet.

Initially heard in the district court, the case was later transferred to Prayagraj and eventually to the Mainpuri Special Judge Robbery Court, where it has been on trial for the past 15 years.

Court Sentences Three to Death in 1981 Dihuli Massacre Case

On March 11, Special Judge Indira Singh convicted three individuals for the 1981 Dihuli village massacre and scheduled the sentencing for March 18. On March 18, convicts Captain Singh and Ramsevak appeared in court, while the third convict, Rampal, remained absconding.

In its final verdict, the court sentenced all three to death. The massacre claimed the lives of 24 people, including Ram Dulari, Shringarbati, Shanti, Rajendra, Ramsevak, Rajesh, Jwala Prasad, and several others.

Published on: Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 07:24 PM IST