Our Correspondent / New Delhi

The Yogi Adityanath led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has initiated the process of withdrawal of 131 cases lodged against rioters in connection with the 2013 Muzaffarnagar communal violence which clamed more than 60 lives and thousands forced to flee.

CM has sought a legal opinion from the State’s Law department in this regard.

In a letter dated February 23, Special Secretary in the Uttar Pradesh government Rajesh Singh has asked the district magistrate of Muzaffarnagar to provide the latest details of the cases.

In the 13-point letter, the State government has sought the district magistrate’s “clear opinion along with reasons” regarding the withdrawal of cases in “public interest.”

Along with the letter, the government has also attached copies of the basic details of the 131 cases, with penal code sections invoked in the matter, names of the villages and concerned police stations, but does not name any accused.

The cases to be withdrawn include serious offences of over two dozen cases of murder and attempt to murder, and dozens of other cases of arson, rioting, promoting enmity between groups and dacoity.

The opinion of the district police chief has also been sought along with the latest update of the court cases in the matter.

The Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had issued the directions to start the process of withdrawal of cases against Hindus after a high-level Khap Panchayat delegation, led by former Union minister and BJP MP Sanjeev Baliyan, had met him on February 5 and requested him of withdrawing 179 cases lodged against Hindus out of vendetta by the previous government.

Baliyan, BJP MLA from Budhana Umesh Malik, State Sugarcane Minister Suresh Rana, controversial BJP MLA from Sardhana Sangeet Som are among those who are facing charges in connection with the Muzaffarnagar riots.

Baliyan had reportedly told the Chief Minister that these cases have caused a discontent among party workers in the

Former Union Minister and Muzaffarnagar BJP MP Sanjeev Baliyan confirmed that on February 5 he had handed over a list of 179 cases in which 850 Jats were accused, to the Chief Minister. Mr Baliayan led a delegation of 12 Jat leaders to meet Mr. Adityanath.

“I had given the Chief Minister a list of 179 cases in which 850 Hindus were booked in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli during the riots. It was the unanimous request of the delegation to reconsider these cases,” Mr. Baliyan said.