[1992 Vachathi Crimes] Madras High Court Judge To Visit The Tribal Hamlet Before Delivering Judgment In Appeals Against Conviction

Justice P Velmurugan, who had been hearing the appeals told the counsels that he would be visiting the village on March 4^th before delivering his verdict.

On June 20 1992, a team of 155 forest personnel, 108 policemen, and six revenue officials entered the Tribal dominated village of Vachathi searching for smuggled sandalwood and gathering information about Veerappan, the infamous Indian bandit turned domestic terrorist. Under the pretext of search, it was alleged that the officials ransacked the villager’s property, destroyed houses, killed cattle, assaulted villagers, and even committed rape on the village women.

Though the CPI(M) had initially filed a Public Interest Litigation before the Madras High Court to take up the case, the court dismissed the same observing that government officials would not have indulged in such conduct. Thereafter, CPI(M) State secretary A Nallasivan filed a petition before the Supreme Court which directed the High Court to hear the matter as early as possible.

The High Court later ordered a CBI inquiry into the case. Out of the total 269 persons accused in the case, 54 died during the trial. Out of the remaining 126 forest personnel, 84 policemen and 5 revenue officials were convicted.

Though an appeal was preferred by the State against CBI enquiry, the same was dismissed by a division bench of the High Court. The High Court had also quashed the charge sheet filed against the villagers for supposed “smuggling”.