Muzaffarnagar riots: Warrant issued against Sadhvi Prachi again

Muzaffarnagar: A local court on Saturday again issued a warrant against VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi for not appearing before it in connection with a 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Sitaram issued a bailable warrant against Sadhvi Prachi and directed her to appear before the court on February 21 in the case.

On December 18 too, the court had issued a warrant after she failed to appear before it today.

According to prosecution, apart from Prachi, Union Minister Sanjeev Baliyan, BJP MP Bhartendu Singh, BJP MLAs Suresh Rana and Sangeet Som are facing charges under various sections of IPC for violating prohibitory orders, deterring public servants from discharging their duties and also wrongful restraint.

It is alleged that the accused participated in Nadala Mador mahapanchayat meeting and incited violence through their speeches in the last week of August of 2013.

The other accused submitted exemption applications through their lawyer, which the court allowed and fixed the next date of hearing on February 21. The communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas in August and September of 2013 had claimed 60 lives and displaced over 40,000 people.