Muzaffarnagar violence: SC seeks explanation from UP

The Supreme Court on Thursday termed the allegation of the Uttar Pradesh police developing cold feet under political pressure to control the communal violence in Muzaffarnagar as "very serious" and sought explanation from the state government.

The apex court took on record the sting operation done by a news channel purportedly showing that police did not take prompt action to control violence under political  pressure and issued notice to the Akhilesh Yadav government.

“These are very serious allegations. We cannot ignore these things. Let the state government file response on it," a bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said.

The bench also sought response from the government on a bunch of petitions seeking independent probe by Central Bureau of Investigation or the Special Investigation Team or by the judicial commission into the incidents.

The bench asked the state government to file its response by October 17. It also asked the state to give details on how many people have been arrested in the incidents and how many first information reports lodged by the state.

It, however, said that its main concern is to bring the stranded people to home.

The state government submitted that all work for relief and rehabilitation are going on and so far around 20,000 stranded people have gone back to their homes.

The bench also took strong exception to a petitioner lawyer after it was told that he had gone to Muzzafarnagar where he had falsely told the public that he is a part of three member committee appointed by the apex court to look into the communal clash there.

"We may take action against the person. How can he use our name," the bench said.