Kanpur violence: UP directs officials to withdraw case against 32 in 2015 communal clash

Confirming the direction to the Kanpur district administration, a government counsel told The Indian Express: “We have received a letter instructing us to file a plea in the concerned court for withdrawal of the case. However, we have not yet submitted the application.” The letter dated October 8 was sent by a special secretary in the state government.
Earlier, the government had sought details of the case as well as the opinion of the district authorities, including the police and prosecution.

Several people were injured in the violence that took place on October 24, 2015 as a group of people, protesting the alleged “desecration” of a religious poster during the Muharram procession a day before, clashed with another group from a different community in Fazalganj police station area. The violence soon spread to other parts of Kanpur, where incidents of heavy stone-pelting and firing were reported. Protesters also pelted stones at buildings and set vehicles on fire.

After hours of clashes, police were able to bring the situation under control and a case was lodged at Fazalganj police station based on a complaint by Sub-Inspector Brijesh Kumar Shukla.

The case was filed under several IPC provisions, including Sections 147 (rioting), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups), 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging official duties), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant) and 336 (acts endangering life or personal safety of others). The police also invoked the Damage to Public Property Act against the accused.