The Uttarakhand High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file a detailed response within two weeks regarding the long-pending Rampur Tiraha incident, a tragic episode from the 1994 Uttarakhand statehood movement. The directive was issued during the hearing of a petition before Justice Pankaj Purohit’s single bench.
The court questioned the UP government about the current status and jurisdiction of the six criminal cases registered in connection with the incident. The petitioner informed the court that despite nearly 30 years passing since the FIRs were filed, no significant hearing or legal progress has taken place. It was revealed that the district judge had transferred the cases to Muzaffarnagar court based on a letter from the Registrar General of the High Court, but they have remained inactive since then.
Advocate Raman Shah, representing the statehood movement activists, stated that the incident involved sexual assault of seven women and torture of 17 others. The main accused, then Muzaffarnagar DM Anant Kumar Singh, along with seven others, were charged by the CBI and the cases were transferred to Muzaffarnagar court, where proceedings are still pending.
The Rampur Tiraha incident took place on October 2, 1994, when Uttarakhand statehood protesters heading to Delhi were allegedly attacked by police in Muzaffarnagar. The police were accused of using brutal force, including rape and firing, which led to the death of seven protesters. Although the CBI filed serious charges including murder and grievous injury, the trial has remained stalled due to various legal and procedural delays. Notably, prosecution against Anant Kumar Singh could not proceed due to denial of sanction by the Governor.
The High Court has now sought clarity on all pending cases and their legal status to ensure that justice is not further delayed.
