800 Muzaffarnagar riots accused still absconding

A total of 800 accused found involved in riot cases in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh last year are still absconding, Special Investigation Team officials said on Thursday. 

The SIT probing the Muzaffarnagar riots had found the involvement of 1550 accused in different cases. While 750 accused have been arrested so far, 800 are still absconding, Additional SP, SIT, Manoj Jha said.

Court has initiated attachment proceedings against 400 absconding accused, he added.

The SIT had completed its investigation in 370 out of 510 riot cases. Investigation in the 131 cases is pending as attachment proceedings have not been initiated against the accused, Jha said.

The remaining nine cases including that of fake video uploading case involving BJP MLA Sangeet Som and journalist Rajesh Verma murder case, are under investigation, he added.

The communal violence, which had broken out in September last year in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining towns, had claimed over 40 lives and rendered above 50,000 people homeless.