Jharkhand Police Drops Sedition Charge Against Anti-CAA Protesters; SP Seeks Explanation From Investigating Officer

"In Dhanbad, directions have been issued to scrap the charge of sedition imposed on 3000 people forthwith and proper action has been recommended against the guilty officer," Soren said.

In this regard, the Superintendent of Police wrote a letter addressed to the concerned police officer, directing him to forthwith move a correction letter before the court, to obliterate Section 124A of IPC from the FIR.

On January 7, around 3,000 unidentified people along with 7 named persons in Dhanbad were booked under Sections 143, 145, 149, 186, 188, 290, 291, 336, 153A, 153B and 124A of IPC. The allegation was that these people unlawfully assembled at public places, to demonstrate against Citizenship Amendment Act. 

On a written complaint by Dhanbad cricle officer Prashant Kumar Laiq, the police had filed an FIR against the protesters for allegedly blocking traffic jams and shouting slogans hurting religious sentiments without permission.

Stating that the charge under Section 124A in the FIR appeared to have been registered without an in-depth understanding of the situation, the SP also issued a notice to the SHO, Dhanbad, asking him to show cause within three days, why disciplinary proceedings should not be instituted against him.

"Inclusion of Section 124A in the impugned FIR seemingly has no justification. It appears that the FIR was registered without due application of mind, reflecting your careless attitude and incompetence as an officer.

You are hereby directed to tender your response explaining this oversight within three days, failing which disciplinary proceedings shall be instituted against you," the letter read.

While notifying this development, Soren said,

"The law is not meant to scare the public and suppress their voice, but to generate a sense of security in the common public. In the government under my leadership, the law will act to raise the voice of the people.

… Also I would like to appeal to all the brothers / sisters of Jharkhand that the state is yours, it is our duty to respect the law and order here."

Click Here To Download FIR

Click Here To Download Letter For Obliteration

Click Here To Download Show Cause Notice