AGENCIES / Lucknow
A local court in Muzaffarnagar has acquitted 11 persons accused of setting a house on fire and robbing valuables during the 2013 riots in Fugana police station area of the district.
All the accused were out on bail.Over 60 people were killed and several were displaced in the riots that broke out on September 7, 2013 in Muzaffarnagar and later spread to adjoining districts. Anjum Khan, government counsel, Muzaffarnagar, said, “Additional District Judge Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari acquitted 11 accused on Tuesday in a case related to 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots for want of evidence.
Three prime witnesses, including complainant in the case, Suleman, and his two sons — Islam and Azam — did not support the prosecution theory and were declared hostile.” According to government counsel, Suleman of Lisad village got an FIR lodged at Fugana police station on September 16, 2013, saying that on September 7 after the riots broke out, 12 persons of his village entered his house forcibly shouting objectionable slogans. They ransacked the house and escaped with jewellery, cash and household items.