Police taking the culprits away. - Photo: Samvad News Agency
UP Crime News: On Tuesday, the court sentenced three culprits to death in the mass murder of 24 Dalits that took place on November 18, 1981 in Dihuli village of Jasrana tehsil of Firozabad district. Along with this, a fine of two lakh rupees each was imposed on two culprits and a fine of one lakh rupees on another culprit. After the court order, the police took all three to Mainpuri district jail. The culprits Kaptaan Singh, Ramsevak and Rampal were brought from Mainpuri district jail amid tight security in the court of ADJ Special Robbery Indira Singh at 11.30 am. After their appearance, they were again sent to the civil court at around 12:30 pm. They were again called from the court after lunch.
Police taking the accused away after pronouncing death sentence - Photo : Amar Ujala
Two lakh rupees each on Kaptaan Singh, Ramsevak and one lakh rupees fine on Rampal.
The police presented all the three culprits in the court at 3 pm. Rohit Shukla, from the prosecution's side, presented various arguments in the court and demanded death penalty citing evidence and testimony of the massacre. On the basis of evidence and testimony, the court sentenced Kaptaan Singh, Ramsevak and Rampal, guilty of killing 24 people, to death. Kaptaan Singh, Ramsevak and Rampal were also fined two lakh rupees each and Rampal was fined one lakh rupees. As soon as they heard the sentence, disappointment appeared on the faces of all the three. They started crying. Their family members were also present outside the court, they also started crying. After this, the police took them to the jail and lodged them there.
Police taking the accused away after pronouncing death sentence - Photo : Amar Ujala
The night of all three was restless in the jail.
Rampal, Ramsevak and Kaptan Singh, who were awarded death sentence, appeared troubled the whole night in Mainpuri district jail. The convicts of Dihuli case kept tossing and turning throughout the night. Before this they kept tossing and turning on Monday night. According to the district jail personnel, regular monitoring of these three was also being done. On Tuesday all three woke up on time and after their daily routine, got ready to go to the court. But all three were restless. They had also eaten less food on Monday evening.
Death sentence to all three culprits in Dihuli massacre - Photo : Amar Ujala
There is happiness in the prosecution after getting the death penalty
For Ramsevak, Captain, and Rampal in the Dihuli case, the prosecution is happy. On the other hand, the defense is now preparing to save the convicts from the noose. Prosecution lawyer Rohit Shukla said that no doubt the culprits were of old age. But, it was a case of mass murder. This incident shook the country and the state. The prosecution had strong witnesses and precise evidence.
Firozabad dihuli massacre - Photo : Amar Ujala
Preparing to appeal in High Court to escape the noose,
due to this the court sentenced these three to death. Defense lawyer Manoj Dubey said that during the cross-examination in the court, they tried to make the prosecution witnesses and evidence fall apart. No witness appeared on behalf of the accused. However, the decision given by the court is respected. But, as per the law, he will go to Allahabad High Court to appeal the court's decision.
Dihuli massacre – Photo: Samvad News Agency
This was the incident:
24 Dalits were murdered en masse in village Dihuli (which was part of Mainpuri district at the time of the incident) of Jasrana police station area of Firozabad district. This incident took place on 18 November 1981 at 6 pm. The gang of dacoits Santosh and Radhe entered Dihuli village armed with weapons and opened fire on women, men and children in protest against the testimony in a case. 24 people were killed in this. The miscreants also looted after committing the murder. The report was filed by Layak Singh of Dihuli in Jasrana police station on 19 November 1981. The case was registered against Radheshyam alias Radhe, Santosh Singh alias Santosha and 20 other people in Jasrana police station. This case went on in the court from Mainpuri to Allahabad. After this, on 19 October 2024, the case was again transferred to Mainpuri Session Court for debate. On the orders of the District Judge, it was heard in the special robbery court.
Dihuli's mass massacre - Photo : Amar Ujala
A case was filed against these 20, 13 are dead.
On the charge of carrying out this massacre, a case was filed against gang leader Santosh alias Santosha and Radhe, along with gang members Kamruddin, Shyamveer, Kunwarpal, Raje alias Rajendra, Bhura, Pramod Rana, Malkhan Singh, Ravindra Singh, Yudhishthir son of Durgpal Singh, Yudhishthir son of Manshi Singh, Pancham son of Manshi Singh, Laxmi, Indal and Rukhan, Gyanchandra alias Ginna, Kaptan Singh, Ramsevak and Rampal. All are dead except Laxmi, Indal and Rukhan, Gyanchandra alias Ginna, Kaptan Singh, Ramsevak and Rampal. Death report regarding their deaths has also been filed in the court.
Guilty Ram Sevak - Photo : Amar Ujala
These are the absconding
Laxmi, Indal and Rukhan, Gyanchandra alias Ginna is still absconding. Their file has been separated. Now the police will either arrest them and present them in the court or will investigate about them. If they are dead then their death report will be filed in the court and the case file will be closed.
These 24 Dalits were murdered –
Jwala Prasad, Ramprasad, Ramdulari, Shringar Vati, Shanti, Rajendri, Rajesh, Ramsevak, Shivdayal, Munesh, Bharat Singh, Dataram, Asha Devi, Lalaram, Geetam, Liladhar, Manikchandra, Bhure, Kun. Sheela, Mukesh, Dhandevi, Ganga Singh, Gajadhar and Pritam Singh were murdered.
Guilty Captain Singh – Photo : Amar Ujala
The court pronounced the sentence on the strength of the testimony of these five.
In this famous massacre, Layak Singh, Vedram, Harinarayan, Kumar Prasad, Banwari Lal testified as fact witnesses in the court. Although all of them have died now. But it was on the basis of their testimony that the entire case stood in the court and the court sentenced the culprits. The testimony of witness Kumar Prasad was the most important. He had given his testimony in the court as an eyewitness. Kumar Prasad's testimony mentioned the massacre and Vedram's testimony mentioned murders as well as loot.
Police deployed in Dihuli – Photo: Samvad News Agency
Ramsevak and Kaptan Singh were sentenced under these sections:
Three years imprisonment under IPC 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons).
Death sentence and a fine of Rs 1 lakh under IPC 302 (murder) and 149 (unlawful assembly).
Life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000 under IPC 307 (attempt to murder). Life imprisonment and
a fine of Rs 50,000 under IPC 449 (entering someone's house and committing a crime) and 450 (house trespass).
Rampal was given the punishment under these sections:
Life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh under IPC 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and IPC 302 (committing murder).
Police in Duhli – Photo: Samvad News Agency
Timeline: What happened when
24 people were gunned down in Dihuli on November 18, 1981.
A case was registered at Jasrana police station on the night of November 18-19, 1981.
By February 26, 1982, 15 accused, including main accused Radhe and Santosha, were arrested.
Chargesheet filed in court on February 26, 1982.
Charges framed against the accused in court on May 13, 1982.
On May 5, 1983, the case was transferred to the Prayagraj Sessions Court on the orders of the High Court.
The case was again transferred to the Mainpuri Sessions Court for arguments on October 19, 2024.
Three accused were found guilty on March 11, 2025.
The convicts were sentenced on March 18, 2025.
PC:Amarujala
