A 100-year-old man in India’s Uttar Pradesh endured a brutal home invasion, identifying the attackers as the perpetrators of a 1982 massacre where he survived by feigning death. Authorities sentenced three suspects to death based on his testimony, marking a long-overdue resolution after 42 years.
Recent Assault Revives Old Case
Police in Aligarh district arrested the gang leader following the man’s complaint on January 21. The centenarian, named Ram, recognized the intruders from the infamous 1982 riots that claimed numerous lives in his community.
Details of the 1982 Atrocity
During the riots, assailants murdered the local Murli tribe chief and kidnapped his wife, subjecting her to gang violence. Ram and another survivor, Sati Din, confronted two key suspects—Mikun, who killed the chief, and his accomplice—in 1984. Both men faced initial convictions but evaded full punishment.
Sati Din remarried, but Ram lived as a bachelor, enduring public stigma falsely accusing him of his wife’s murder. He survived the massacre by lying motionless among three corpses, preserving his silence for decades amid ongoing bias in the justice system.
Breakthrough Identification
The recent attack prompted Ram to break his silence. In a retrial, his direct identification convicted the three main perpetrators, sending them to death row despite limited forensic evidence.
Court Ruling Amid Investigation Doubts
Investigators noted the case relied solely on Ram’s recognition, with police reports highlighting contradictions and vague facts. The court issued the death penalty through a 23-page verdict, overriding concerns about conclusive proof. Officials described the legal process as legally questionable, unable to rely on alternative methods for conviction.
Public Outrage Over Justice Delays
Indian citizens express frustration with public safety lapses. One online commenter stated, “Judges and lawyers in India deserve titles like ‘worst judge’ and ‘worst lawyer.'” Another criticized, “The government dozes while public safety reforms gather dust.”
Experts highlight persistent flaws in India’s justice system, particularly for vulnerable survivors seeking accountability decades later.
