The Jharkhand government today withdrew cases against all Jharkhand agitationists.A total of 291 cases involving 2,720 people were withdrawn after a fortnight-long review by a three-member high-level committee. Despite the creation of Jharkhand state 28 months ago, the cases had not been withdrawn, Chief Minister Arjun Munda, himself a beneficiary of the decision, told a press conference here. ‘‘This is not the final figure. If there are still other agitationists, their cases would also be withdrawn,’’ he said.The panel, including Additional DGP Rameshwar Oraon and Secretary (Home) J.B. Tubid as its members, had inserted an advertisement in local dailies inviting applications from agitationists at the district and divisional levels. Of the 400 applications they received, 18 cases related with the damages caused to Central Government bodies, like the Railways, were referred to the Union Home Ministry with a plea to withdraw them in the larger interest of the agitationists.Asked if there was a cut-off year for granting amnesty to agitationists, the Chief Minister said most cases were registered post-1980. Did murder or dacoity charges figure in the cases dropped? ‘‘There was no case of murder charge. Of course, there were charges of dacoity against some odd agitationists who had allegedly ransacked the office of the BDO. Their charges have been dropped after careful review of their cases,’’ said Tubid, also present at the press conference.‘‘We are reviewing 16,000 cases pertaining to offences against Forest and Environment in West Singhbhum. These offences were committed by agitationists in successive periods. If the state government deems it fit these cases will also be withdrawn,’’ said Tubid.
