UP govt releases Bhim Army chief

POLICE SAY THE DECISION TO RELEASE CHANDRASHEKHAR WAS TAKEN AFTER

HIS MOTHER FILED A MERCY PLEA

LUCKNOW: The state government on Thursday ordered immediate release of Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar, alias Ravan, who was arrested for the clashes between Dalits and the police in Saharanpur on May 9, 2017, principal secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar said.

Kumar said the decision to release Chandrashekhar was taken after his mother filed a mercy application to the state government. He added that the situation in Saharanpur and other circumstances were also analysed before the decision.

Chandrashekhar, the founder of Bhim Army — a group of Dalit youth — has enjoyed a celebrity status in his neighbourhood in Saharanpur where many consider him to be a crusader for social justice. His and his group’s growing influence in the region was seen to have been a part of a stronger Dalit voice that has risen in the last couple of years.

Chandrashekhar was accused of sparking the May 9 clashes during a protest against the police cane charge on people protesting “caste violence” in Saharanpur’s Shabbirpur village on May 5.

Police had i nvoked t he National Security Act (NSA) against Chandrashekhar, a lawyer by profession, after his arrest. He has been in jail since his arrest by UP Special Task Force from Himachal Pradesh on June 8, 2017. NSA was also slapped on five other members of the Bhim Army, of whom Sonpal, Sudhir and Vilas were released on September 6 and 7, Kumar said. Two others, Sonu and Shiv Kumar, will be released with Chandrashekhar, he added.

Kumar said the order has been sent to Saharanpur district administration and their release was likely by Friday.

While Chandrashekhar’s judicial custody was till November 1, 2018, that of Sonu and Shiv Kumar was till October 14, 2018.