BIJNOR: The Uttar Pradesh government has given its sanction for commencement of trial against 67 people booked in Bijnor district for allegedly taking part in clashes during protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on December 20, 2019.
Soon after the violent protests, local police had filed four FIRs in which 67 people including a former chairman of nagar palika were booked.
The cases were filed under several sections of IPC, including 153-A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295-A (Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class). To begin trial against people booked under these IPC sections, a prior sanction of the state or the central government is mandatory.
Police had filed a provisional charge sheet against the accused and was waiting for the prosecution sanction from the government which it got last week. Like Bijnor several other districts have also applied for the sanction.
Bijnor’s SP Dharamveer Singh said, “After collecting evidence against the accused, we had sought permission for prosecution for 153-A of IPC from the regime. The government has granted permission.” Additional district government counsel said, “Police had submitted a provisional chargesheet in connection with the anti-CAA protests in the court. They had sought permission from the state for prosecution under section 295-A and 153-A. The court considers the above two sections only when the government gives its nod. Most of the accused are out on bail.”
Massive protests and clashes were witnessed in Bijnor on December 20, 2019. Eight towns of the district including Bijnor, Nahtaur, Jalalabad, Nagina, Chandpur, Najibabad and Sherkot were affected. Protesters allegedly burnt vehicles and vandalized shops. Two of them were killed in Nahtaur. Administration had assessed damages to public properties worth Rs 21.7lakh. 61 protesters were also sent recovery notices. Over 1,000 protesters were booked. Of them 150 were arrested.