A special court in Uttar Pradesh has allowed the state government’s request to withdraw a case of inciting violence against various accused...
A special court in Uttar Pradesh has allowed the state government’s request to withdraw a case of inciting violence against various accused, including 12 Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, in connection with the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case, reported Live Law on Saturday. These leaders include state minister Suresh Rana, BJP MLA Sangeet Som, former MP Bharatendra Singh and Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Prachi.
The leaders were accused of giving inflammatory speeches during a panchayat in Nangla Mandaud village that led to communal violence in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts, according to the Hindustan Times. Muzaffarnagar district government counsel Rajiv Sharma said that the accused were booked for violating prohibitory orders, deterring public servants from discharging their duties and wrongful restraint, reported PTI.
At least 60 people were killed and thousands of Muslim families displaced in the incident that took place in September 2013. Days later, reports of sexual assault and abuse had also begun to emerge.
On Friday, judge Ram Sudh Singh allowed the government to withdraw the case. Muzaffarnagar’s additional district government counsel Lalit Bhardwaj said that the state government had sent a letter requesting the withdrawal of the case last year.
Also read:
Three years after Muzaffarnagar riots, gang-rape survivors face death threats, trial delays
BJP’s Muzaffarnagar district president Vijay Shukla praised the court’s decision. “Fake case were registered against...
