TN CM announces withdrawal of cases against anti-caa protesters
TENKASI(TN): Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami on Friday announced that all cases against those who protested against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and for Covid- lockdown violators would be withdrawn, continuing with his announcements of withdrawing cases before April-may assembly elections.
“Ten lakh cases filed during the lockdown period and 1500 cases filed during the anti-caa protests will be withdrawn in public interest,” Palaniswami said. “Except for cases filed against specific serious offences, and for not allowing police personnel from discharging their duty, all other cases will be withdrawn.” A subsequent statement added that cases of violence, getting an e-pass fraudulently will continue to be investigated.
Activists have welcomed the state’s decision.
During the CAA protests, a case was filed against human rights activist and senior advocate of the Madras high court Sudha Ramalingam. “After students were attacked in Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, we held a candlelight vigil. Police stationed there shook hands with me for keeping the protest peaceful,” says Ramalingam.
“Months later I came to know that an FIR was filed and I was accused number one. It goes on to show how the entire police machinery and criminal law is being abused by the state to silence people. Chief minister and the politicians know that there is really no case here and when taken to trial, it will end up in acquittals. That’s why in most cases there is no chargesheet filed. It will be kept pending. One fine day it will be dropped and that’s nearer to the elections. It’s time we take cognisance that these were cases foisted by abusing the process of law,” she said.