Yogi Adityanath government to withdraw 38 cases in Muzaffarnagar riots

The Yogi Adityanath government has recommended withdrawal of 38 criminal cases against more than 100 individuals in 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots. According to reports, the recommendation note has been prepared by special secretary JP Singh and undersecretary Arun Kumar Rai.

The recommendation report was sent to District Magistrate after getting a green signal from the Uttar Pradesh government on January 10.

Several leaders of the ruling BJP, including MPs Sanjeev Balyan and Bharatendra Singh, MLAs Sangeet Som and Umesh Malik, are accused in the matter. Minister in the state government Suresh Rana and Hindutva leader Sadhvi Prachi are also accused in cases related to the Muzaffarnagar riots.

Communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas in August and September 2013 had claimed 60 lives and displaced over 40,000 people. The state government had formed a SIT to probe the riot cases. The SIT has filed charge sheets in 175 cases. 

Police had registered cases against 6,869 people and arrested 1,480 people in connection with the riots. According to the SIT, 418 accused have been acquitted in 54 cases due to lack of evidence.

With PTI Inputs