LUCKNOW: A day after chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced to withdraw cases of stubble burning pending against farmers, the state government on Thursday shortlisted 868 such cases lodged since January 2020 in which chargesheets have been filed against the accused.
As per records available with UP Police, around 1,500 FIRs were lodged against farmers in 38 districts. Of these, the chargesheet was filed in 868 cases while the remaining were either closed with a final report for absence of evidence or expunged for one reason or the other. In all, over 2,500 farmers were named as accused.
Maximum 165 cases are from Kheri where chargesheets have been filed.
Last year, the Supreme Court had directed all the district police chiefs to coordinate with other departments to curb stubble burning which was leading to air pollution.
Another officer in the home department said apart from withdrawal of cases, the decision on refund of fine, running into several crores of rupees, will also be considered. A senior police officer said that these cases are usually registered under the sections of not obeying an order passed by a public servant along with Indian Penal Code sections like making atmosphere noxious to health, negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter and also National Green Tribunal sections.
All these are non-cognisable offences which have mostly fine and imprisonment of very less duration.
A farmer leader, who wished not to be named, said the move will bring relief to the farmers. Last year when cases of stubble burning were not stopping, the government had also instructed the local police outpost incharges to spread awareness among farmers for not burning stubble.
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