AMN /
A local court in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, has issued bailable warrant against several accused in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riot cases, including Union Minister Sanjeev Baliyan, BJP MP Bhartendu Singh, party MLA Suresh Rana and VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of Muzaffarnagar issued the warrant in the month of September and asked all the accused in the case to appear in the court on November 2.
But the matter could come in light yesterday only when police reached the houses of the accused to serve the court order. The prosecution lawyer said that the case required appearance of the accused for its timely disposal but their non-appearance is resulting in extreme delays. The accused were charged under section 188 (violating prohibitory orders), section 354 (assault or criminal force to deter public servants from discharging his duty) and 341 (wrongful restraint) of the IPC.
The leaders were part of the Jat Mahapanchayat in Nangla Mandaur in Muzaffarnagar where they allegedly incited violence through their speeches on August 30, 2013. About 60 people were killed and over 40,000 displaced in the communal clashes in the aftermath of the Nangla Mandaur Mahapanchayat. Reacting to the court warrant, Mr. Baliyan, the BJP MP from Muzaffarnagar, accused that the Samajwadi Party government of the state is indulging in politics of vendetta.