Supreme Court to continue hearing today the PIL on the #Lakhmipurkheri incident.In the last hearing, Supreme Court observed that it was getting the impression that the Uttar Pradesh Police was "dragging its feet" in its investigation into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence of October 3, which claimed the lives of 8 people, four of them being farmers protesters who were allegedly mowed down by...
Supreme Court to continue hearing today the PIL on the #Lakhmipurkheri incident.
In the last hearing, Supreme Court observed that it was getting the impression that the Uttar Pradesh Police was "dragging its feet" in its investigation into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence of October 3, which claimed the lives of 8 people, four of them being farmers protesters who were allegedly mowed down by the vehicles in the convoy of Ashish Mishra, the son of Union Minister and BJP MP Ajay Kumar Mishra.
The bench pointed out that the Special Investigation Team will have to identify the vulnerable witnesses and afford them protection and get their statements recorded under Section 164 CrPC, as it will have more evidentiary value.
Bench: We direct state to file separate replies in the case
Bench: Further direct State that 164 statements of relevant witnesses have to be recorded.
Bench: Mr Bhardwaj complains about not investigating of his complaint, by wife of one of the deceased. Similarly Mr Sharma has expressed grievance of one Mr Kashyap, a journalist killed in the incident.
Bench: Taking into consideration status report, we have seen Development and steps taken by State. As far as witness, Protection is concerned,We have seen report state has already taken steps.We direct state to provide witness protection.
CJI: you protect them that’s all
Salve: you may say that protection be provided.
CJI: we’d said that in our order. We will show. Or orally we had said
CJI: another issue is witness protection
Salve: What they’ve done is already provided Security. They’ve requested these people, id they make application District judge will pass formal order.
Salve: I don’t think they have found injured witnesses. There were fatalities
CJI: expedite is, or we will give directions to laboratories to expedite the report.
CJI: Identification is important
Salve: All 16 accused have been identified
CJI: Out of these witnesses are there any injured?
Salve: I can show some 164 statements to your Lordships
CJI: our apprehension is, i think you’ve grasped already.
J Kant: Lets not forget out of this crowd, some had just gone, some of them are likely to not turn out to be witnesses
CJI: Out of rest of your witnesses see more than 23 people about incident, eye witness evidence is always more credible, its better to have that evidence
Salve: We have all physical evidence no issue, there are people who’ve seem car and people inside car
CJI: In these kind of cases, There’s every possibility of ..
Salve: I understand