A special SC/ST court in Agra, in a landmark judgment, has convicted 36 people and acquitted 15 others in a case related to the infamous Panwari caste violence incident that took place 34 years ago, on June 21, 1990. The sentencing of the 36 convicted individuals will be announced in open court on May 30.

The court delivered its verdict after hearing 31 eyewitness testimonies and examining extensive evidence. Three accused remain absconding, with non-bailable warrants (NBWs) issued against them.

Out of the 80 people initially chargesheeted, 27 have died and 53 were alive at the time of the verdict. 32 convicts have been sent to jail, while the case of one juvenile is being heard separately in the juvenile court.

The verdict was delivered under multiple IPC sections including 148, 149, 323, 144, 325, 452, 436, 427, 504, 395, along with Sections 3/2/5 of the SC/ST Act.

What was Panwari incident?

On June 21, 1990, a wedding procession from the Jatav community reached Panwari village in Agra’s Sikandra police jurisdiction. Allegedly, members of the Jat community objected to the procession passing in front of their homes.

The situation escalated into a violent caste clash, resulting in arson and large-scale destruction of property, particularly targeting homes of the Jatav community.

The unrest spread quickly across Agra, prompting the imposition of curfew in the city. The incident had significant political repercussions.

Then Opposition Leader and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited the affected families. Local MP Ajay Singh, who was also a junior Railway Minister at the time, played a key role in calming tensions on both sides.

On June 22, 1990, an FIR was registered at the Sikandra police station by the then Station House Officer Omvir Singh Rana, based on a bystander’s complaint.

The FIR named 6,000 unidentified persons under multiple IPC sections and the SC/ST Act, but no arrests were made at that time. Among the accused was BJP MLA Chaudhary Babulal, who was acquitted in 2022 by the court.