SP govt looks at dropping ‘false terror cases’

The Akhilesh Yadav government is examining the possibilities of withdrawing the cases against the accused named in four terror strikes in UP — the court blasts in 2007, the serial blasts in Varanasi in 2007, the Gorakhpur blasts in 2007 and the attack on the CRPF camp in Rampur on 2008 New Year's eve.

The Law Department has already received detailed reports from district officials in the cases of UP court blasts, the Gorakhpur blasts, and the attack on the CRPF came in Rampur. The report from Varanasi is awaited. These reports contain details of the cases, their status, and the opinions of the district magistrates, SPs and prosecution officers whether the cases could be withdrawn in public interest. Except the case of Gorakhpur blasts, the trial of the accused is currently on in all other cases. In two of three cases registered after the Varanasi blasts, the trial has been completed and the judgement is awaited.

Sources said a meeting of top officials from the Chief Minister secretariat, the Law Department, the Home Department, the DGP headquarters and the prosecution is likely to be held after Diwali. During the election campaign, the Samajwadi Party had promised to withdraw 'false terror cases' lodged against Muslim youths.

Details of the cases:

*In Varanasi, three cases were registered after blasts at Sankatmochan temple, Cantonment railway station and Godaulia market on March 7, 2006, leading to the death of 21 persons and injuries to 70.

Waliullah of Allahabad, who is an alleged operative of Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami (HuJI), was arrested by the Varanasi police in Gosainganj area of Lucknow on April 5, 2006. The police claimed that three accused were involved in triggering the blasts. Another accused Shamim of Chandauli district is absconding while the third one is yet to be identified.

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