Nishka Srinivas Veluvali –
Published On: December 2, 2021 at 19:20 IST
Bheekha, one of the Accused in the Behmai Massacre Case has been declared dead due to illness, by the Court.
The deceased was one among the Accused who had murdered 20 people under dacoity queen Phoolen Devi and her gang in February 14, 1981. The 20 victims included 17 Thakurs, 1 Muslim, 1 Dalit and 1 Backward Caste (BC) . The massacre had left 6 people severely injured.
The death of the Accused was publicized on Wednesday, 01 December after the Defence counsel requested the Court to Recuse Bheekha’s name by providing a notice with respect to his death.
Defence Advocate Girishnarayan informed the Court that Bheekha, one of the Accused in the Case, had died on November 19.
“He was reeling under several health-related ailments. Application with regard to his death has been given in the Court,” the Defence continued.
The Court fixed December 13 for the next hearing, upon listening to the Defence and Prosecution.
The Plaintiff Rajaram and Prime Witness Juntar Singh have also died in a year’s span since then the Verdict has been unresolved and now one of the Accused has also passed away.
Dacoit queen Phoolan Devi along with her gang of 35-36 people executed the robbery in Behmai village of Sikhander Police Station in Kanpur area, on February 14,1981. The Accused had carried 26 men to the bank of the village and set all of them on fire, killing 20 people.
The Accused were taken into custody following the case filed by the Plaintiff Rajaram.
Sixteen Accused along with the Phoolan Devi had died, so the Cases against them have been lessened whereas the other Accused Shaym Babu, Vishwanath and Bheekha were released on Bail.
The Trial of this Case had begun in August 24, 2012 under the Additional District and Sessions Court, Special Judge (anti dacoity) Sudhakar Rai.