<p>In a dramatic judgment, the Andhra Pradesh High Court Tuesday set aside an order of a special court that sentenced 21 people to life imprisonment and 35 others to one year's jail for the 1991 massacre of Dalits in Guntur district.<br /></p>.<p>The high court struck down the sentence for lack of evidence in the sensational case, which had attracted national attention.<br /><br />A division bench headed by Justice L. Narasimha Reddy observed that the prosecution failed to produce sufficient evidence before the court, and noted that the accused have already spent a long time in jail.<br /><br />The high court pronounced its judgment on a petition by the convicts who challenged the special court's order in what is known as Tsundur massacre case.<br /><br />The court directed Guntur district superintendent of police to make adequate security measures and ensure that no procession or celebration is organised after the convicts are released.<br /><br />In 2007, a special court sentenced 21 to life imprisonment and 35 others to one year's rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs.2,000 each, convicting them for the massacre.<br /><br />The court set up under the SC/STs Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989, held 56 people guilty but acquitted 123 others for lack of evidence.<br /><br />Eight Dalits were killed and many others injured in attacks allegedly by upper caste people on Aug 6, 1991 at Tsundur village of Guntur district, about 350 km from Hyderabad. <br /><br />The houses of Dalits were looted and set afire and many families were forced to flee from Tsundur and adjoining villages.<br /><br />The police filed a charge sheet against 219 people, of whom 33 died during the course of the trial and seven were let off as police did not find any evidence against them.<br /><br />The case was heard over nearly 16 years in the country's first-ever special court set up at the scene of an atrocity.<br /><br />Guntur superintendent of police Satyanarayana said the high court order would be challenged in the Supreme Court.<br /><br />Several Dalit organisations have also reacted strongly to the high court order. They plan to challenge the high court order in the apex court.<br /></p>
<p>In a dramatic judgment, the Andhra Pradesh High Court Tuesday set aside an order of a special court that sentenced 21 people to life imprisonment and 35 others to one year's jail for the 1991 massacre of Dalits in Guntur district.<br /></p>.<p>The high court struck down the sentence for lack of evidence in the sensational case, which had attracted national attention.<br /><br />A division bench headed by Justice L. Narasimha Reddy observed that the prosecution failed to produce sufficient evidence before the court, and noted that the accused have already spent a long time in jail.<br /><br />The high court pronounced its judgment on a petition by the convicts who challenged the special court's order in what is known as Tsundur massacre case.<br /><br />The court directed Guntur district superintendent of police to make adequate security measures and ensure that no procession or celebration is organised after the convicts are released.<br /><br />In 2007, a special court sentenced 21 to life imprisonment and 35 others to one year's rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs.2,000 each, convicting them for the massacre.<br /><br />The court set up under the SC/STs Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989, held 56 people guilty but acquitted 123 others for lack of evidence.<br /><br />Eight Dalits were killed and many others injured in attacks allegedly by upper caste people on Aug 6, 1991 at Tsundur village of Guntur district, about 350 km from Hyderabad. <br /><br />The houses of Dalits were looted and set afire and many families were forced to flee from Tsundur and adjoining villages.<br /><br />The police filed a charge sheet against 219 people, of whom 33 died during the course of the trial and seven were let off as police did not find any evidence against them.<br /><br />The case was heard over nearly 16 years in the country's first-ever special court set up at the scene of an atrocity.<br /><br />Guntur superintendent of police Satyanarayana said the high court order would be challenged in the Supreme Court.<br /><br />Several Dalit organisations have also reacted strongly to the high court order. They plan to challenge the high court order in the apex court.<br /></p>