UP CM promises withdrawal of cases against protesters

Police had yesterday registered an FIR against 190 people, including 40 girl students, after they took part in a demonstration in Sambhal district. They were protesting against non-inclusion of their names in government schemes.

"Some girl students and demonstrators blocked roads and torched the hoarding of Minister Iqbal Mehmood yesterday after which an FIR was lodged against them," Superintendent of Police Tehsildar Singh had said.

In Lucknow, when reporters asked the chief minister about the case, he said, he would "look into the matter and cases would be withdrawn".

The protesters were alleging that their names were not included in Kanya Vidyadhan, Hamarai Beti and Unka Kal schemes of the state government.

"I had said in Rampur yesterday that those eligible will definitely get Kanya Vidyadhan. If case has been lodged owing to law and order I will inquire and there will be no case against children...There demand their names should be included in the list..If they are eligible it will be done... there is nothing like case," he told reporters here.

However, IG law and order B P Singh said that if case was lodged it would be investigated.

"Case is withdrawn only after charge sheet is filed not before that. Technically, the matter would be inquired after that government can withdraw the charge sheet and if final report is submitted then there is no question of withdrawing the case," Singh said.

Earlier, opposition parties attacked the state government in unison and demanded withdrawal of cases against them saying it would spoil career of the students.

In a letter written to the chief minister, Congress MLA Akhilesh Pratap Singh said the cases and allegations against girl students were a sensitive matter.

"Before initiating any legal process against the girls, serious thought should be given on its future repercussions," Singh said.