UP Police arrest 13 for Muzaffarnagar riots

At least 13 people were arrested for their role in the Muzaffarnagar riots, after the Supreme Court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to expedite the process of bringing the accused to justice, police said on Thursday.

At least 13 people were arrested for their role in the Muzaffarnagar riots, after the Supreme Court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to expedite the process of bringing the accused to justice, police said on Thursday.

Two murder accused, four accused of stoning, and seven others were arrested on Wednesday from Bahawdi, Basikala, Shahpur and Kotwali areas of the district, a police official said.

A drive has been launched to arrest the riot accused after the direction of the apex court to expedite the process.

According to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which is probing the riot cases, nearly 800 people were found to be involved in rioting, gang rape, and murder, and many of them are still absconding.

Of the 50 accused in Kutba killing case, only three have been arrested, police said, adding, eight persons including a woman were killed and several others injured by rioters in the village.

The communal clashes that took place in Muzaffarnagar in September last year left 62 people dead and more than 40,000 homeless.