Hyderabad, September 25: The State government appears to be favourably inclined to lift cases registered against students who took part in agitations for and against bifurcation of the State.
A formal announcement is likely next week after examination of the proposal for lifting of cases by the Law Department of the State government.
A committee comprising Home Minister P Sabita Indra Reddy and former home minister K Jana Reddy met here on Friday and examined a list of cases registered against students during the agitations across the State. About 790 cases were registered against 3,567 students in connection with various incidents in the State. The students were charged with various offences, including attempt to murder, damage to public property and obstructing government officials on duty, among others.
The decision on the part of the State government is long overdue since an assurance to this effect was given by Union Home Minister P Chidamabaram on the night of December 9 last year while announcing steps for formation of a Telangana State. Since then, several representations had been made to the State government and the Centre by people’s representatives particularly those from Telangana. Chidambaram had recently said it was for the State government to take a call on the issue.
Speaking to Express, Sabita Indra Reddy said the police department had submitted a list of cases registered against students and the same was sent to the Law department for its opinion. She said various options were being examined which will be discussed with Chief Minister K Rosaiah next week.
“We are likely to take a decision on the issue next week and the decision on lifting of the cases will be announced by the Chief Minister,” she said, adding that the government might consider only the cases relating to destruction of public property. However, the government would consider only those cases that were booked prior to the appointment of the Srikrishna panel.
–Agencies