Mumbai, June 26: Maharashtra government today decided to withdraw cases registered against persons in connection with the agitation against the killing of 11 Dalits in police firing following desecration of Dr B R Ambedkar's statue at Ramabai Nagar in Ghatkopar on July 11, 1997.
"The cabinet has decided to withdraw cases registered against those protesting the Ramabai Nagar incident", Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who also holds home portfolio, told reporters here.

Bhujbal presided over the cabinet meeting held in the absence of Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who is away on a tour of US.

Numerous cases have been filed against protestors who came out on streets and staged demonstrations after the Ramabai Nagar incident.

The agitation was not criminal in nature and they were merely attempting to draw the state government's attention, Bhujbal said.

He said earlier at the instance of MPs and MLAs many such cases had been withdrawn, but all cases related to Ramabai Nagar incident would be dropped after today's cabinet decision.

Bhujbal, however, was not aware of the number of cases and persons involved.

Bureau Report