2013 Muzaffarnagar Riots: Court Acquits 8 Individuals

Muzaffarnagar court has acquitted eight individuals accused of looting and arson during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots due to lack of evidence.

The Muzaffarnagar riots of 2013 resulted in the deaths of over 60 people and the displacement of thousands.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Alka Bharti issued the order, acquitting Azadpal, Jitender, Parul, Vikas, Gaurav, Kuldeep, Sanjay, and Mithlesh of the charges. The court stated that the prosecution was unable to substantiate the allegations.

As per defense counsel Pradeep Kumar Malik, an FIR was filed by Akram on September 8, 2013, in which he claimed that rioters had entered his residence in Lisadh village under the Phugana police station, carried out looting, and set the property on fire.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) had filed a charge sheet against nine individuals in the case. During the course of the case, one of the accused, Rishipal, passed away in 2016.