Akhilesh govt takes credit for ‘withdrawing’ cases closed by Maya

While the Akhilesh Yadav government takes credit for withdrawing criminal cases that were lodged against farmers during the protests over land acquisition-related issues in Tappal in 2010, the fact is that as many as 25 of the 31 cases were withdrawn by the previous BSP government. The present government has taken action to close only the remaining six cases.

Of these six cases, the Aligarh police filed a closure report in two cases. In four other cases, which were lodged under the Damage to Public Property Act, the government has ordered withdrawal.

In August 2010, farmers staged a dharna at Zikarpur village against acquisition of land at Tappal in Aligarh district. Residents of five villages, namely Jahangarh, Kansera, Zakarpur, Kripalpur and Tappal, participated in the protest. On August 14, the protest turned violent and four persons, including three locals and a policemen, were killed and several others were injured.

The dead included Mohit Kumar (12), Prashant Sharma (12), Dharmendra Singh (28), all of whom reportedly suffered bullet injuries, and sub-inspector Bijendra Singh of the 38th battalion of PAC, who was lynched by villagers. Mohit and Prashant were school students while Dharmendra was a farmer.

The Aligarh district administration last week received directions from the state government for withdrawal of the last four cases. Prosecuting Officer A K Mishra said they would file withdrawal applications in court soon.

The two cases already closed under the present regime are those of the murder of sub-inspector Bijendra Singh and a case against farmer leader Manveer Singh Teotia and over 2,000 unidentified persons on various charges, including attempt to murder. In the first case, the closure report was filed in May and in the second in April.

The 25 cases in which closure reports were filed during the Mayawati government included those arising from the killing of Mohit Kumar, Prashant Sharma and Dharmendra Singh.

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