Rajasthan withdraws TADA cases

By Mohammed Iqbal

JAIPUR, JAN. 10. The Congress(I)-led Government in Rajasthan, bowing to pressure from the Muslim community, today withdrew all cases registered under the now-defunct Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (TADA) Act against 41 people in Jaipur, Kota and Bikaner districts. The majority of these cases pertained to communal violence in the State in 1989 and early Nineties.

Though the Congress(I) had promised in its election manifesto that it would review and withdraw the cases pending in the Designated TADA Court which lacked sound evidence, its failure to fulfil the promise after coming to power had led to strong resentment among Muslims.

The 41 TADA detenus, facing trial in eight cases which have now been withdrawn, belong to both Hindu and Muslim communities. Of the eight, five were registered in the Ramganj, Manak Chowk, Kotwali and Amber police stations in Jaipur, two in Bajju in Bikaner district and one in Dadabari in Kota.

Official sources here said the decision to revoke the cases was taken by the Chief Minister, Mr. Ashok Gehlot, this morning before a Cabinet meeting started. While the cases against some of the accused would be withdrawn completely, the cases booked against those found in possession of incriminating material are likely to be shifted to the Explosive Act.

All the cases registered in Jaipur and Kota were in connection with the communal violence that erupted in the State in 1989 during the Ram Janmabhoomi campaign launched by the BJP. The Bajju cases related to recovery of firearms from as many as 25 people. The firearms were allegedly smuggled from across the international border.

The case in Kota was pending against one person, while there were 15 persons facing trial in five cases registered under the draconian law in Jaipur.

The Rajasthan TADA Relief Committee had demanded release of 13 detenus in Jaipur belonging to the Muslim community and threatened to launch a State-wide protest if the Government failed to meet the demand.

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