Jaipur: Ashok Gehlot, former Rajasthan chief minister, on Thursday said the acquittal of all 40 accused in the 2015 Dangawas massacre case was deeply concerning and pointed to serious lapses in the investigation.
A special SC/ST court in Nagaur district had on Wednesday acquitted all the accused in the case related to the killing of five Dalits during a land dispute in Dangawas village.
"The verdict in the Dangawas massacre case of Nagaur after 11 years is deeply concerning. In 2015, six people, including five Dalits, were brutally killed in a land dispute, and now the SC/ST court has acquitted all 40 accused giving them the benefit of doubt."
If all 40 accused have been acquitted, then who killed these six people? Accountability must be fixed in this injustice to the Dalit community.
Ashok Gehlot
The senior Congress leader said despite the long legal battle, a CBI probe and trial proceedings, justice had not been delivered.
"Even after a long legal fight of 11 years, a CBI investigation and trial, failure to get justice indicates serious shortcomings in investigation and prosecution," Gehlot said.
Targeting the BJP government in the state, he added, "Such an incident occurred 11 years ago under BJP rule and now an adverse verdict has come during their regime, which shows that the BJP is not in favour of justice."
Gehlot said the Congress has always stood for the dignity and rights of the Dalit community and called for a strong appeal against the verdict in a higher court.
He urged the state government to play an active role in ensuring that the victims' families get justice.
