Cases falling flat in Kaithal dist courts as witnesses turn hostile
(Witnesses) are turning hostile and cases are being decided without anyone being penalised due to lack of evidence. R KUKREJA, district attorney Many people whose properties were damaged filed complaints to get relief, and now are not interested to give statements in court . POLICE SOURCE
Cases of violence, loot, arson, theft and blocking of national highways registered during the February Jat quota agitation are falling flat in Kaithal district courts due to lack of witnesses, who are turning hostile.
Of 57 cases related to quota violence registered at various police stations in Kaithal, five have already been decided, and several unidentified people (booked without name and other details) have been acquitted due to lack of witnesses and evidence. These cases had been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 380 (theft in dwelling house), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of ₹50), 379 (theft) and 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house) and relevant sections of the National Highway Act.
Sources said about 45 people have turned hostile so far, and the police have failed to prove the charges. Not a single person has been punished yet.
“Yes, people are turning hostile and cases are being decided without anyone being penalised due to lack of evidence,” said Kaithal district attorney Rajender Kukreja.
“We cannot be sure why witnesses are turning hostile. There might be some social obligations, as in most of the cases witnesses and accused belong to the same village and they might have sorted out the issue mutually,” he said.
As far as threat is concerned, there has been no such complaint and no one has approached the district court for police protection so far, said the district attorney.
“We have already sent the report of these cases to the state government,” he said.
Sources in the police claimed many people whose properties were damaged during the quota agitation filed police complaints to get the compensation. Now that they have got it, they are not interested in giving their statements in court, they said.
Also, in most of the complaints, traders whose shops were damaged or looted did not have any clue about the accused as they were not at their shops at the time of the incident.