Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 23 Oct: BJP leader Ravindra Jugran today met Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and discussed the matter of witnesses who have been continuously appearing before the CBI for the past 28 years in connection with the Rampur Tiraha Muzaffarnagar incident of October 1–2, 1994. He requested that these witnesses, who travel from remote areas of Uttarakhand, be recognised as Uttarakhand state movement activists and be duly honoured by the government.
Ravindra Jugran apprised the Chief Minister that the Allahabad High Court, acting on a public interest petition filed by the Uttarakhand Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti, had ordered a CBI inquiry into the Rampur Tiraha, Muzaffarnagar, incident as well as the Mussoorie, Khatima, Shriyantra Tapu, and Dehradun incidents. The CBI had completed its investigation and submitted the report to the Muzaffarnagar court in 1997.
Jugran further stated that, since 1998, the witnesses have been bearing all expenses related to their security, travel, and stay on their own while traveling from remote hill regions of Uttarakhand to Muzaffarnagar to testify. He urged that the Uttarakhand government should take responsibility for the safety and travel-related expenses of these witnesses in the future.
Ravindra Jugran stated that the Muzaffarnagar incident was a gruesome tragedy and a matter of pride, dignity, and self-respect for the people of Uttarakhand. Therefore, it is the duty of the Uttarakhand government to honour and recognise those who have continued to testify in this case.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami agreed with the suggestion and directed the Home Secretary to take necessary action in this regard.
