HC reserves verdict on plea by Bhim Army founder

ALLAHABAD: The Allahabad high court on Friday reserved its judgment on a petition filed by Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar alias Ravan, challenging an order of the district magistrate, Saharanpur, by which the National Security Act (NSA) was invoked against him for his alleged role in Saharanpur violence in May last year.

One Sumit had died and many others, including policemen, had suffered injuries in the clash.

The allegation against Chandrashekhar was that he incited violence. Hearing a writ petition filed by Chandrashekhar, a division bench comprising justice Ramesh Sinha and justice DK Singh reserved their verdict after hearing the arguments of both the parties.

To recall, a group of people was going to take part in Maharana Pratap Jayanti in Saharanpur’s Shabbirpur village on May 5 last year when some Dalit community members opposed it. As a result, a violent clash took place resulting in death of one person. Four days later on May 9, a mahapanchayat under the aegis of Bhim Army Bharat Ekta Mission was called at Saharanpur in protest against the May 5 incident.

When the district administration declined to grant permission for holding the mahapanchayat, the members of Bhim Army allegedly blocked the road on Ram Nagar road at Saharanpur.

When the police intervened, the Bhim Army members allegedly started throwing stones. It is also alleged that they indulged in violence and put Ram Nagar police Chowki on fire. An FIR in this connection was lodged by the district administration against the members of Bhim Army.

Chandrashekhar was arrested on June 8, 2017 by the special task force of UP police from Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh. A day after the high court ordered Chandrashekhar’s release on bail after observing that the charges against him were politically motivated, the DM Saharanpur passed an order detaining Chandrashekhar alias Ravan under the NSA on November 2, 2017.