THE MARCH 16 riot accused did not get any breather after the tribunal for prevention of unlawful activities refused to lift the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
The decisions came at a time when the process to withdraw all the riot cases against majority of accused SIMI leaders and criminals, has moved in an advanced stage. If the tribunal’s verdict has injected a sense of dejection, it has created more trouble for finance and taxation advisor to Government Surendra Mohan Agarwal.
Agarwal had his strategy spinning around giving relief to riot accused and extract political mileage out of it. The SP veteran is preparing a ground for himself from Generalgunj assembly segment. A former SIMI cadre and a riot-accused rallying hard for withdrawal says: “The delay on part of the government created more trouble for SIMI.”
“Had the case been withdrawn before this verdict we would have been in advantageous position. Now the scene is single public interest litigation can jeopardise the entire exercise,” he added. Needless to say, the SIMI was held responsible for the 2001 Kanpur riots in which 30 persons, including the ADM (finance) CP Pathak had been killed and property worth hundreds of crore was destroyed. Later, the police arrested nearly 750 persons in this connection, several of them having close link with SIMI.
Recently, the government sought a detailed report on status of these cases and opinion of police stations concerned if the cases are withdrawn.
{{/usCountry}}Recently, the government sought a detailed report on status of these cases and opinion of police stations concerned if the cases are withdrawn.
{{/usCountry}}Bajaria, Chamangunj and Sisamau police stations sent favourable reports, but Anwargunj and Becongunj police strongly opposed withdrawal of cases. The report sent by the Anwargunj and Becongunj police stated that such a move could stir a serious law and order problem. Secondly, the report underlined another fact that several accused were either SIMI members or hardcore criminals.