- September 8, 2024
2013 Muzaffarnagar riots: Court acquits four ‘attackers’ due to ‘lack of evidence’ | India News – Times of India
AGRA: A local court in UP acquitted four persons accused in one of the cases involving the “attack” on a family during communal riots in parts of Muzaffarnagar and neighbouring areas on Sept 7, 2013, after “witnesses turned hostile and the victim retracted his statement”. This particular case relates to an incident in district’s Bahawari village under Phugana limits.
District govt counsel, Rajeev Sharma, said on Saturday, “After examining details and hearing both sides, the SC/ST court of special judge in Muzaffarnagar while giving the benefit of doubt to accused due to lack of sufficient evidence, acquitted all four men on Friday.”
The ‘victim’ Ishtiaq alias Iqbal, now 45, a resident of Bahawari, had filed the case on Oct 2, 2013, claiming some armed men, including Bittu, Rajeev, Arvind and Pradeep (all locals), had attacked his residence during the riots on Sept 8, and after looting the house, beat his family members and set the place on fire. They also vandalised his car, he had alleged.
Following an investigation, a case was registered under IPC sections of rioting along with 395 (dacoity) and 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house) against four accused named by the complainant. The SIT then filed a chargesheet in court.
During the trial, Ishtiaq retracted his statement about his presence in the house at the time of the “attack”. He told the court that on Sept 8, he and his family had already fled the place and took shelter around 6am in a relief camp in Kairana, Shamli district, and came to know about the “vandalism and loot” later.
The plaintiff also said after 10-12 days in the Kairana relief camp, “some unknown people had prepared an application with his signature and filed it at Phugana police station”. He further told the court: “I’ve no idea who had written this police complaint, and who those people were…”
District govt counsel, Rajeev Sharma, said on Saturday, “After examining details and hearing both sides, the SC/ST court of special judge in Muzaffarnagar while giving the benefit of doubt to accused due to lack of sufficient evidence, acquitted all four men on Friday.”
The ‘victim’ Ishtiaq alias Iqbal, now 45, a resident of Bahawari, had filed the case on Oct 2, 2013, claiming some armed men, including Bittu, Rajeev, Arvind and Pradeep (all locals), had attacked his residence during the riots on Sept 8, and after looting the house, beat his family members and set the place on fire. They also vandalised his car, he had alleged.
Following an investigation, a case was registered under IPC sections of rioting along with 395 (dacoity) and 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house) against four accused named by the complainant. The SIT then filed a chargesheet in court.
During the trial, Ishtiaq retracted his statement about his presence in the house at the time of the “attack”. He told the court that on Sept 8, he and his family had already fled the place and took shelter around 6am in a relief camp in Kairana, Shamli district, and came to know about the “vandalism and loot” later.
The plaintiff also said after 10-12 days in the Kairana relief camp, “some unknown people had prepared an application with his signature and filed it at Phugana police station”. He further told the court: “I’ve no idea who had written this police complaint, and who those people were…”
