Agra: A special dacoity court in Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri district on Tuesday sentenced three men to death for the 1981 massacre in Dehuli, where 24 Dalits, including women and two children, were shot dead over five hours to punish Jatav families who had allegedly informed police about the movement of upper-caste brigands. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 each on the trio. After the verdict, the convicts were seen crying in court.
Additional district judge Indira Singh had convicted the three accused — Kaptaan Singh, Ramsevak, and Rampal Singh, all in their early 70s — last week. Additional district govt counsel (ADGC) Rohit Shukla said, “Members of the Radheyshyam Singh and Santosh Singh gang were arrested after some Dalit villagers informed police about their movement. The massacre was a planned attack, with all accused involved in executing the killings in retribution against the Jatav families. Kaptaan and Ramsevak killed several villagers.”
The court, in its judgment, said, “The crime committed by the convicts is a shame on law and order as well as humanity. This crime destroys the social structure. Keeping in view these facts and Supreme Court’s opinion on legal provisions, the brutality of the crime, the callous manner in which it was committed, and the blatant disregard for human life, this case falls in the rarest of the rare category. Though no criminal history of the convicts was produced, the court believes that awarding the death penalty is justified, as it serves not only as a deterrent but also as justice for the victims and their families.”
On the evening of Nov 18, 1981, a gang dressed as policemen stormed Dehuli village (then in Mainpuri, now in Firozabad district). Led by Thakur men Radheshyam Singh alias Radhey and Santosh Singh alias Santosha, they opened fire on a Dalit group, killing 24 people, including women, children as young as six months, and the elderly.
The case was initially registered in 1983 and transferred to the lower court in Allahabad in 1984 following a high court order. Later, it was shifted back to Mainpuri, where the final judgment was delivered. Although none of the accused admitted to their crimes, the court found them guilty based on compelling evidence against them.
“In March 1982, 15 accused were arrested and sent to jail. Charges were framed in April 1983, but most secured bail after three to four years,” Shukla said. The trial moved slowly, and 14 of the accused died over the decades. In May 2023, the case was transferred from Allahabad’s lower court to Mainpuri, where the final verdict was delivered. The original FIR named 17 accused under IPC sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), and 396 (dacoity with murder), among others. Over four decades of trial, 14 of them died.
Sarbati Devi, a survivor, expressed relief but also lingering fear. “They broke into my house after smashing the door open with an axe and shot at us without a word. My two-and-a-half-year-old son was killed instantly. I was shot too but survived,” she said.
She recalled hiding her husband under a haystack and pulling him out after the attackers left. “They stalked the village from 4pm to 9pm. We were terrified. My mother-in-law, sister-in-law, nephew, brother-in-law — 12 or 13 members of my family — were killed. Once they were done with the killings, they had a hearty dinner and even spent the night in the village temple.”
While grateful for the verdict, she pleaded for protection. “We have small children to care for. We need help to rebuild our lives. Earlier, we were given a job under the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s scheme, but that was taken away too. We need proper support so our children can have a future, and we can live in peace.”
Additional district judge Indira Singh had convicted the three accused — Kaptaan Singh, Ramsevak, and Rampal Singh, all in their early 70s — last week. Additional district govt counsel (ADGC) Rohit Shukla said, “Members of the Radheyshyam Singh and Santosh Singh gang were arrested after some Dalit villagers informed police about their movement. The massacre was a planned attack, with all accused involved in executing the killings in retribution against the Jatav families. Kaptaan and Ramsevak killed several villagers.”
The court, in its judgment, said, “The crime committed by the convicts is a shame on law and order as well as humanity. This crime destroys the social structure. Keeping in view these facts and Supreme Court’s opinion on legal provisions, the brutality of the crime, the callous manner in which it was committed, and the blatant disregard for human life, this case falls in the rarest of the rare category. Though no criminal history of the convicts was produced, the court believes that awarding the death penalty is justified, as it serves not only as a deterrent but also as justice for the victims and their families.”
On the evening of Nov 18, 1981, a gang dressed as policemen stormed Dehuli village (then in Mainpuri, now in Firozabad district). Led by Thakur men Radheshyam Singh alias Radhey and Santosh Singh alias Santosha, they opened fire on a Dalit group, killing 24 people, including women, children as young as six months, and the elderly.
The case was initially registered in 1983 and transferred to the lower court in Allahabad in 1984 following a high court order. Later, it was shifted back to Mainpuri, where the final judgment was delivered. Although none of the accused admitted to their crimes, the court found them guilty based on compelling evidence against them.
“In March 1982, 15 accused were arrested and sent to jail. Charges were framed in April 1983, but most secured bail after three to four years,” Shukla said. The trial moved slowly, and 14 of the accused died over the decades. In May 2023, the case was transferred from Allahabad’s lower court to Mainpuri, where the final verdict was delivered. The original FIR named 17 accused under IPC sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), and 396 (dacoity with murder), among others. Over four decades of trial, 14 of them died.
Sarbati Devi, a survivor, expressed relief but also lingering fear. “They broke into my house after smashing the door open with an axe and shot at us without a word. My two-and-a-half-year-old son was killed instantly. I was shot too but survived,” she said.
She recalled hiding her husband under a haystack and pulling him out after the attackers left. “They stalked the village from 4pm to 9pm. We were terrified. My mother-in-law, sister-in-law, nephew, brother-in-law — 12 or 13 members of my family — were killed. Once they were done with the killings, they had a hearty dinner and even spent the night in the village temple.”
While grateful for the verdict, she pleaded for protection. “We have small children to care for. We need help to rebuild our lives. Earlier, we were given a job under the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s scheme, but that was taken away too. We need proper support so our children can have a future, and we can live in peace.”
