Court adjourns Muzaffarnagar riots hearing till March 18

MUZAFFARNAGAR: A local court has adjourned the hearing of 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case against several BJP leaders, including Union Minister Sanjiv Balyan, till March 18.

The hearing of the riots case against BJP leaders, including Balyan, MP Bhartendu Singh, MLAs Suresh Rana, Sangjt Som and VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi, was adjourned till March 18 by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Sitaram yesterday.

The court also allowed the pleas of the accused for exemption from personal appearance.

According to the prosecution, the accused are facing charges under various sections of IPC for violating prohibitory orders, deterring public servants from discharging their duties and wrongful restraint.

The accused leaders allegedly participated in a mahapanchayat at Nagla Mador village here and incited violence in the area through their speeches, leading to the 2013 riots. The riots claimed many lives and displaced over 40,000 people.