Muzaffarnagar Riot: UP Govt to Withdraw ‘Politically Driven’ Cases

Over 60 killed and more than 40,000 were displaced in communal violence in Muzaffarnagar in September 2013. 

(Photo: Reuters)

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has started withdrawing 131 cases related to the riots in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli in 2013. The lawsuits also include 13 cases of murder and 11 of attempt to murder, reported The Indian Express.

The state's Law Minister Brijesh Pathak, while replying to a specific question said on Thursday that the government may withdraw riot cases if they are "politically motivated", but did not respond to The Indian Express report.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has decided to withdraw those cases which were filed due to political reasons. We have initiated a process in this regard.

Brijesh Pathak, UP Law Minister

He said that only those cases were being withdrawn which “smacked of political vendetta”.

The IE reported that documents seen by them revealed that the UP government withdrew cases that included serious charges of “heinous” crimes under the IPC for which a person can be jailed for a minimum of seven years.

At least 62 persons died and a large number of people were left homeless in the riots that took place in September 2013 in Muzaffarnagar.

Police had registered 503 cases against 1,455 people in relation to the riots, reported The Indian Express.

The list of cases included those against BJP leaders Suresh Rana, Sanjeev Balyan, Bharatendu Singh, Umesh Malik and Sadhvi Prachi, said The Indian Express report.

How the Process of Withdrawal Started

The IE report said the UP government decided to withdraw the cases after a group of Khap leaders from Muzaffarnagar and Shamli, including Balyan and Malik, had a meeting with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on 5 February where a list of 179 cases were discussed.

After this the Yogi Government took information about the cases from the respective districts, and started the process of withdrawing 131 cases.

According to the report, on 23 February, Uttar Pradesh's law department sent a letter signed by Special Secretary Rajesh Singh to the district collectors of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli, asking for details of the 131 cases in 13 points, also seeking the current status, reported The Indian Express.

Balyan, while speaking to The Indian Express, had reportedly said that all the accused on the list were Hindus.

Opposition Lashes Out at UP Govt’s Decision

Following the reports, the Opposition lashed out at the UP government. Congress leader and senior advocate Kapil Sibal wrote on Twitter. “State to protect murderers not victims of violence...”

Speaking to ANI, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, “They're making mockery of the Constitution & the IPC. Government should take action against those because of whom around 50,000 people became refugees (in Muzaffarnagar). The BJP is ruling by the rule of religion and not by the rule of law.”