Days after non-bailable warrants were issued against several BJP leaders, which included Uttar Pradesh minister Kapil Dev for not appearing in court, several BJP leaders and others surrendered before the Uttar Pradesh court on Tuesday pertaining to the Muzaffarnagar riots case.
Yati Narsimhanand, a priest of Dasna Devi temple known for his hateful and derogatory statements did not show up to the court and another warrant was issued against him. The court ordered that all accused must be present on the next given date.
Prosecution Officer Niraj Singh told PTI, “Twenty people including Uttar Pradesh minister Kapil Dev Agrawal, ex-Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan, VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi, ex-Uttar Pradesh minister Suresh Rana, ex-BJP MP Bhartendu Singh, BJP MLAs Umesh Malik and Ashok Kansal and Yati Narsimhanand are being prosecuted in the case.”
The accused have been prosecuted under sections 188 which pertains to disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant, Section 353, which concerns assault or use of criminal force to prevent a public servant from carrying out his duties, Section 341 which deals with punishment for illegal restraint, and Section 153 A which penalizes acts that promote enmity between groups based on religion, race, place of birth etc.
The prosecution argued that the accused participated in a panchayat meeting held in Naglamador village, provoked violence and violated constraint orders through their speeches in August 2013.
The 2013 riots, often described as one of the worst riots in India in a decade and ‘the worst violence in Uttar Pradesh in latter-day history killed more than 60 people. Nearly 40,000 people residing in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts were displaced due to the riots.
