Muzaffarnagar riots: Sadhvi Prachi surrenders before court
VHP leader, Sadhvi Prachi surrendered in a Muzaffarnagar court after failing to present herself after a series of warrants issued against her in connection with the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case. She was accused of participating in a meeting and stirring violence through hate-speeches which lead to communal riots in Muzaffarnagar. The court's hearing for this case would be held on 23 February.
According to some people, the cause of the riots was the alleged stalking and harassment of a 17-year-old girl in Muzaffarnagar by a Muslim boy. The boy was beaten to death by the girl's brothers which led to riots.
Communal riots between the Hindus and the Muslims in Muzaffarnagar and surrounding areas during August-September claimed the lives of 60 and left around 40,000 displaced. Curfew was declared and the Indian army had to step in to keep the situation under control. The Supreme Court blamed the UP government and ordered the immediate arrest of all the accused in the riots case.
Reportedly, five gang rape cases and two sexual harassment cases were filed after the end of the riots in Muzaffarnagar. The number instances of sexual harassment might even be more as victims have not come out due to fear.
Retd. Justice Vishnu Sahay was designated by UP's state government to look into the causes of the 2013 riots. The Committee put forward a report for the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots to UP Governor. In the 775-page-report, he blamed SP and BJP for their hand in the communal clashes. Congress demanded that strict action should be taken against the accused and justice should be done.
7 accused in the 2013 riots case surrendered in a court in Muzaffarnagar. The list of the accused who surrendered included Union Minister Sanjeev Baliyan, BJP MLA Suresh Rana, BJP MP Bhartendu Singh and four others. The accused were charged with the crime under various IPC sections for violating prohibitory orders, deterring public servants from discharging their duties and wrongful restraint.
BJP MLA from Sardhana, Sangeet Som who was an accused in the 2013 communal riots case surrendered in a Muzaffarnagar court on 19 January. He was later released on a bail on a personal bond of Rs.20,000. He also took a pledge that he would appear before the court on the next hearing on January 23.
