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Jail for Urdu Poet's Killers
Jail for Urdu Poet's Killers
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A court in northern India has sentenced 10 people to life in prison for
murdering an Urdu poet during a street performance in 1989. Urdu Poet and
activist Safdar Hashmi was beaten to death with stones while performing a
political play in Sahibabad, in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Hashmi was killed while his troupe - Jana Natya Manch - was performing the play
Halla Bol (Raise Your Voice) during municipal elections in Ghaziabad district in
Uttar Pradesh on January 1, 1989. The play was about factory workers who were on
strike, protesting against the government and their employers.
The court in the city of Ghaziabad said Hashmi was killed because of a political
vendetta. Hashmi's death sparked outrage at the time and hundreds of people
gathered at the court to hear the verdict. Of the 13 defendants, one has
absconded and two died during the lengthy trial process.
The authorities said the leading figure in the murder was Mukesh Sharma, who was
a Congress Party-backed candidate for the elections. Police said Hashmi was
campaigning for a political opponent of Sharma, one of those sentenced. Hashmi
was dragged off and beaten in front of the crowds. He died later in hospital.
Another person, Ram Bahadur, also died in the violence and a verdict is awaited
in his case, which is being tried separately.
An activist, teacher and Urdu playwright, Safdar Hashmi was well known for plays
that expressed concerns for the working class and farmers. One of his most
famous, Gaon Se Shehar Tak (From Village to City), dealt with the problems of
migrant laborers. Most of his plays were performed in streets, slums and
factories.
[Source: The Hindu]
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