Muzaffarnagar riots: Police file cases on over 300 locals for blocking investigation

Muzaffarnagar: More than 300 people have been booked for obstructing police probe against the absconding accused in five cases of gangrape in Phugana village during the riots that took place last September, police said on Tuesday.

Two cases have been registered against more than three hundred people under various sections of IPC for pelting stones and opposing the police in discharge of their duty, said a police officer on the condition of anonymity. Among the arrested accused there are also five women identified as Sunita, Minu, Shimla, Babli and another Sunita were named in this connection, said police.

The local police of Muzaffarnagar faced resistance from the irate locals on January 30 and 31, when they had gone to the village for putting up notices of attachment proceedings at the homes of the accused, they said. Six cases of gang rape were registered against 27 people during riots in which 22 people were found involved. While one Vedpal was arrested, 21 others are absconding.

Last month Chief Judicial Magistrate Narender Kumar had ordered attachment proceedings against the 21 absconding accused under Section 83 of the CrPc. More than 60 people were killed and over 50,000 were displaced during the riots in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas in September last.