Jaipur: A delegation from the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) visited Dangawas village in Rajasthan on August 9, 2026, meeting with victim families and villagers still reeling from a court verdict that acquitted all 40 accused in the 2015 Dangawas massacre case.
On May 14, 2015, six people, including five Dalits, were killed in a brutal act of violence over a land rights dispute in Dangawas village, Merta block, Nagaur district. The killings sent shockwaves across the country and triggered a nationwide movement demanding justice. Under pressure from the movement, the government agreed to 18 demands, including a CBI inquiry. Over time, however, the state government withdrew from most of its commitments, leaving the victim families isolated in their long fight for justice.
After 11 years of waiting, the SC-ST Special Court in Merta delivered its verdict on August 5, 2026, acquitting all 40 accused citing benefit of doubt. The court acknowledged that five deaths and several serious injuries were undisputed facts, but held that the identity of the perpetrators could not be established through legally admissible evidence.
The verdict shattered the victim families. One family member said, “Our loved ones have been killed a second time.”
To stand with the grieving community, PUCL National President Kavita Shrivastava, National Secretary Bhanwar Meghwanshi, State Treasurer Rakesh Sharma, and Dalit rights advocate Tara Chand Verma travelled to Dangawas. The delegation attended a community meeting held at the Ramdev Temple, where they listened to affected families, particularly women, and assured them of full support in the legal battle ahead.
Meghwanshi stated clearly that the acquittal does not mean the crime did not occur, as the court itself acknowledged this. He said the PUCL would support the victim families in challenging the August 5 verdict before the High Court in Jodhpur.
The PUCL delegation made it clear to the villagers that they are not alone in this fight and that the struggle for justice in Dangawas continues.
Story by India Tomorrow Hindi
