Protesters throw bricks during a rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act, in Muzaffarnagar. (Photo Credit: PTI/File)
New Delhi:
A local court on Saturday granted bail to 14 people arrested in connection with the violence during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Muzaffarnagar. Earlier on Friday, district judge Sanjay Kumar Pachori allowed their bail pleas and directed that they are released after furnishing two sureties each of Rs 1 lakh each. According to the prosecution, these people were arrested and sent to jail for allegedly being involved in the violence during protests on December 20 in Kotwali police station area.
Several other people have been arrested by the district police in connection with the violence and have been charged with inciting young kids to pelt stones. Meanwhile, a case has been registered against unidentified people for allegedly disseminating fake news, through social media, regarding a sexual assault of a madrassa student during police custody following the December 20 violence.
Police said a case was registered on Friday under section 22 of the POCSO Act against unidentified people for allegedly spreading false news pertaining to a child’s sexual assault and misusing the law. The development comes after a complaint was filed in this regard, police said. According to cops, the madrassa committee said no incident of sexual assault with any of its students took place.
Earlier, ten madrassa students held in connection with the violence that took place during anti-citizenship law protests in the city on December 20 were granted bail. The SIT found the students not involved in any serious offence and withdrew all charges against them except that of violation of prohibitory orders, the prosecution said. It has been learnt that 18 people were released after being found innocent in the SIT investigation.
Over 70 people were arrested for violence during the protests against the amended Citizenship Act in Muzaffarnagar.
