India court clears 16 cops of killing Muslims

A court in New Delhi yesterday cleared all sixteen policemen accused of murdering dozens of Muslims 27 years ago in a north Indian city, a lawyer said.

More than 40 Muslims were killed in 1987 during riots in Meerut city, some 70 kilometres northeast of New Delhi, after local armed forces picked them up for crowding a local mosque.

The police allegedly then threw the victims into a canal.

"They all, meaning the 16, have been acquitted. The court gave them the benefit of doubt, saying there was lack of evidence," prosecution lawyer Satish Tamta told AFP.

The initial chargesheet was filed in 1996 naming 19 policemen for a string of offences, including murder and conspiracy. But three of the men died during trial.