Muzaffarnagar riots: SC pulls up Akhilesh govt, turns down plea for CBI, SIT probe

The Supreme Court on Wednesday put the Akhilesh Yadav government in the dock for the Muzaffarnagar communal riots and turned down a plea for a CBI or court-monitored probe “at this juncture” into the violence that left nearly 60 persons dead and more than 40,000 homeless.

“We prima facie hold state government responsible for negligence in preventing communal violence in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas,” the SC said.

The SC said the state had failed to protect the serious violation of fundamental rights of the people saying it was duty-bound to protect and uphold the people’s rights.

The apex court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to give police protection to families of Muzaffarnagar violence victims until the trial is completed.

It also directed the state government to arrest all accused persons named in the violence cases irrespective of their political affiliations.

The apex court also pulled up the central and state intelligence agencies for not alerting the UP government on the impending riots.

The SC had in December come down heavily on the state government over reports about deaths of chldren in the relief camps for the riot hit set up after riots in August-September.