THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government is all set to withdraw more cases registered in the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests. The Home Department has directed the District Police Chiefs to speed up the process of withdrawing the cases. Only cases of a non-serious nature are being withdrawn. The government is speeding up the process as the elections are near. Muslim organizations had demanded that the cases be withdrawn.

The government had decided in February 2022 to withdraw non-serious cases. It should be ensured that an application is submitted to the court in all cases where the government has decided to withdraw. Cases in which applications have been filed for withdrawal should be examined and decisions should be taken on cases eligible for bail expeditiously. The Chief Secretary of the Home Department has also directed that instructions be given to the government lawyers in this regard.

It is up to the court to decide when a favourable report is presented by the prosecutor to withdraw the government's cases. A total of 835 cases were registered against 7913 people who took part in CAA-related protest events. The new move comes at a time when the opposition has come forward pointing out that only less than 100 cases have been withdrawn.