Life in jail for Indian poet's killers

Ayanjit Sen
BBC correspondent in Delhi

The death of communist activist Hashmi sparked outrage

A court in northern India has sentenced 10 people to life in prison for murdering a poet during a street performance in 1989.

Poet and communist activist Safdar Hashmi was beaten to death with stones while performing a political play in Sahibabad, in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

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 Wednesday's verdict.

Of the 13 defendants, one has absconded and two died during the lengthy trial process.

Political opponent

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 1 January, 1989.

Hashmi's troupe was performing a play about workers' rights

The play was about factory workers who were on strike, protesting against the government and their employers.

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 playwright, Hashmi was well known for plays that expressed concerns for the working class and farmers.

One of his most famous, Gaon Se Sahar Tak (From Village to City), dealt with the problems of migrant labourers.

Most of his plays were performed in streets, slums and factories.