Muzaffarnagar riots: Case against MoS, 60 others for violation

Muzaffarnagar: The district authorities have filed cases against Minister of State for agriculture Sanjeev Balyan and 60 others for violation of prohibitory orders in connection with Muzaffarnagar riots.

A case was filed on Tuesday against 61 people including Balyan, two BJP MPs Bhartendu Singh and Hukum Singh, BJP MLAs Sangit Som and Suresh Rana, Khap leaders Naresh Tikait and Harikishan Singh Malik, Additional District Magistrate Indermani Tripathi told reporters here.

They have been charged with violation of prohibitory orders and contributing communal tension by making inflammatory speeches in community panchayats held on August 31 and September 7 last year, he said.

Disobeying the order by district authorities banning the panchayats, the accused had participated in two panchayats held in Nagla Madore over Kawal incident in the district, added Tripathi.

The court has fixed the hearing for the case on July 16.

Inquiry commission probe:

The one-member judicial inquiry commission of Justice (Retd) Vishnu Sahai constituted by Uttar Pradesh government to probe the Muzaffarnagar riots has recorded fresh statements of 33 victims here on Tuesday.

More than 700 victims have submitted their affidavits to the commission in connection with the riots.

The communal violence between the Hindu - Muslim communities in Muzaffarnagar district last year led to 62 deaths and more than 50,000 displaced.