Thiruvananthapuram: The Left government in Kerala that has been at the forefront of the protest against the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) as one of the opposition parties ranged against the Centre's legislation, seems to be reluctant when it comes to withdrawing cases registered against the people involved in the protest in the state.
Despite Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's express assurance about dropping of all cases other than those of criminal nature, related to the anti-CAA protest in the Assembly, the police seemed to be persuading people to pay fines to get rid of the cases filed against them.
SKSSF leaders paid Rs 1,200 each for the withdrawal of charges. The first case was taken before the judicial magistrate, whereupon the police encouraged them to pay the fine.
Even though it was announced that all other charges apart from those filed under anti-national activities (Section 123), inflicting serious injury (324) and attempt to murder (307,308), would be waived, 18 petty cases were registered in Kasaragod/
At least 835 cases, including non-serious offences that were registered in the state, have been sent to various police stations for further investigation.
"We have given a list of charges to the government. Now it is the government's responsibility to take up with the High Court which ones can be dropped," a senior police official told Madhyamam.
The number of registered cases districtwise are: Thiruvananthapuram City 39, rural, 47, Kollam city 15, rural 29, Pathanamthitta 16, Alappuzha 25, Kottayam 26, Idukki 17, Ernakulam City 17,Rural 38, Thrissur 66, Rural 20, Palakkad 85, Malappuram 93, Kozhikode city 103, Rural 103, Wyaand 32, Kannur 54, Rural 39. Two cases registered in Kannur were dropped.