The Uttar Pradesh government has officially begun reviewing 51 criminal cases filed against young protestors during the violent 2022 demonstrations against the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme. This development comes months after BJP's Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh appealed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to withdraw cases against what he described as "innocent and unsuspecting youth."
Statewide Cases Under Scanner
A total of 51 cases were registered across 15 districts of Uttar Pradesh during the widespread protests that erupted in June 2022. The state administration has now directed district police chiefs and magistrates in these districts to conduct thorough reviews of all related First Information Reports (FIRs) within their jurisdictions.
According to official information, Jaunpur district recorded the highest number of cases at 11, followed closely by Varanasi with 9 cases and Chandauli with 8 cases. Other affected districts include Aligarh (4 cases), Mathura, Ballia, and Ghazipur (3 cases each), Gorakhpur and Basti (2 cases each), and single cases in Agra, Gautam Budh Nagar Government Railway Police (Ballia), Ghaziabad, Fatehgarh, and Rae Bareli.
Serious Charges and Government Action
The cases involve serious charges including rioting, assaulting public servants, voluntarily causing hurt to deter public officials from duty, robbery, and criminal intimidation. Police had also invoked the stringent Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act against the accused following incidents where protestors damaged trains, buses, and vehicles, setting them ablaze across multiple locations in the state.
Authorities in several districts including Aligarh, Agra, and Mathura have confirmed receiving the government's communication and have begun the review process. A senior government official from one of the 15 affected districts stated, "Once the report is finalised, it will be forwarded to the government without delay."
MLA's Humanitarian Appeal
In his September letter to Chief Minister Adityanath, MLA Dhirendra Singh argued that many young individuals were drawn into the Agniveer-related agitation after being "provoked by Opposition parties and certain anti-social elements." He emphasized that the Agnipath scheme was introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state government to provide youth opportunities to join armed forces and contribute to nation-building.
Singh maintained that the accused youth are not criminals and have no anti-social behavior history. He expressed concern that if cases aren't withdrawn, their careers, future opportunities, and social standing would suffer irreparable damage. "Anyone with a criminal case faces lifelong consequences," the MLA stressed, adding that he had personally met the Chief Minister in September to request case withdrawals.
The BJP legislator claimed that during protests, some young persons, overwhelmed by emotion, participated in activities perceived as law and order violations. He reiterated his belief that external elements instigated the youth, despite his attempts to convince them otherwise during the agitation period.
Understanding Agnipath Protests
The Agnipath scheme represents the government's significant defence recruitment reform, envisioning annual recruitment of 45,000 to 50,000 soldiers who would serve for four years, with only 25% continuing for another 15 years under permanent commission. This contrasts sharply with the previous system where troops joined for 17-year periods with possible extensions and lifelong pension benefits.
Protests erupted nationwide soon after the scheme's announcement, with aspirants primarily concerned about job security and post-service benefits. The limited tenure and absence of pension provisions under the new scheme became major points of contention among defence job aspirants across the country.
The Uttar Pradesh government's review initiative marks a significant development in addressing the concerns raised about the future of youth involved in the 2022 protests, while balancing the need for maintaining law and order during public demonstrations.
