In a surprising turn of events, a local court has pronounced the acquittal of seven individuals implicated in the notorious Muzaffarnagar riots, attributing the decision to insufficient evidence, as confirmed by legal counsel this past Sunday.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been tirelessly working on a staggering 510 riot-related cases, but thus far, only 175 charge sheets have been filed, with a mere 21 individuals facing conviction across three distinct cases. The communal upheaval that shook Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts in 2013 claimed the lives of over 60 individuals and led to the mass displacement of more than 40,000 people—a somber reminder of the violence that erupted during that tumultuous period.
The acquitted individuals—Bittu, Praveen, Bablu, Pankaj, Pintu, Narender, and Anil—found favor with Additional District and Sessions Judge Kanishk Kumar, who emphasized the prosecution’s failure to substantiate its claims.
Defence lawyer Rahul Chaudhry articulated that the witnesses, including the complainant, deviated from their original narratives, ultimately declaring the prosecution’s case hostile. The first information report (FIR) documented a harrowing incident in which rioters invaded the home of a resident named Shakir in Bahawdi village on September 8, 2013, making off with both cash and jewelry amidst the chaos.
Notably, the SIT’s charge sheet had accused these seven men under the auspices of Section 395 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to dacoity.
This latest development raises critical questions about the efficacy of the legal proceedings surrounding one of the most devastating communal riots in recent Indian history.
