Lakhimpur Kheri Violence : Supreme Court To Hear Tomorrow PIL Seeking Proper Investigation

The Supreme Court will hear tomorrow the PIL related to the investigation of Lakhmipur 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 PIL was registered on the basis of a letter written by two advocates seeking proper investigation into the case.On the last hearing date, October 8, a bench led by the Chief Justice of India had recorded its dissatisfaction over the investigation done by the Uttar Pradesh Police in the case. During the hearing, the bench had asked why the accused has not been arrested. When the State Government said that that the police has served summons on the main accused Ashish Mishra, the bench asked if that was the norm in all murder cases. The bench had pointed out that it was a case of brutal murder of 8 people and in such a case, the police would normally arrest the accused immediately. The bench also pointed out that there were clear eyewitness statements. "Law must take its course against whoever is involved", the bench orally remarked. The bench also expressed dissatisfaction with the composition of the Special Investigation Team, saying that all the persons are local officers. The bench also asked if the State is contemplating handing over the matter to CBI.At one point, the CJI even said that the "CBI is also not a solution, for reasons you know..because of persons".Senior Advocate Harish Salve, who appeared for the State of Uttar Pradesh, had assured the bench that satisfactory steps would be taken and investigation by an alternate agency will be explored. The bench had recorded in the order that he will speak to the higher officials of the State Police to do the needful to preserve the evidence and materials in the matter.Following the sharp remarks by the Supreme Court, Ashish Misra had been arrested by the UP Police on 9th October. He was arrested after he appeared before the Crime Branch office in Lakhimpur Kheri earlier that day pursuant to a notice issued to him by the UP Police asking him to appear before it by 11 am.Misra was later denied bail on October 13th in the case by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lakhimpur Kheri, Chinta Ram.Ajay Misra has already been named in a first information report (FIR) for Murder, Criminal Conspiracy in connection with the recent violent incident of Lakhimpur Kheri, in which a total of 8 people died, four of whom were mowed down by a vehicle allegedly being driven by Misra.He has been accused of running over his car on protesting farmers and killing 4 of them in Lakhimpur Kheri last Sunday.On October 6th, Supreme Court had directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to file a status report by today regarding the investigation in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence containing the details of the accused and if they have been arrested.The present PIL is registered on the basis of a letter sent by two lawyers from Uttar Pradesh seeking a time-bound CBI probe into the recent violent incident of Lakhimpur Kheri.They have sought judicial intervention and direction against the Union Government and the Uttar Pradesh government along with the concerned bureaucrats so that the cult of violence comes to a grinding halt.Claiming that of late violence has become the political culture in the country now, the letter written by lawyers Shiv Kumar Tripathi and C. S. Panda prays for a CBI Probe under the supervision of the Supreme Court.The recent violent incident at Lakhimpur Kheri led to death of a total of 8 people, four of whom were mowed down by a vehicle allegedly being driven by the son of Union Minister and BJP MP Ajay Kumar Mishra.The First Information Report (FIR) against the son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and BJP MP Ajay Kumar Mishra 'Teni', Ashish Mishra alias Monu 302 for murder, 304-A for causing death due to reckless driving, 120-B for criminal conspiracy and 147 for rioting, 279 for rash driving, 338 for causing grievous hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life along with other penal provisions at the Tikunia police station.About the incident:On October 3, several farmers were holding protests against the visit of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to Lakhimpur Kheri district, when four protesting farmers were killed after they were mowed down by an SUV.Allegedly, the SUV was the part of the convoy of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and BJP MP Ajay Kumar Mishra.An alleged video of the incident had also surfaced in social media showing a group of protesters moving forward on a road next to farm fields and then being mowed down by a grey SUV that speeds up from behind.The Uttar Pradesh government had announced that a retired High Court judge will probe the Lakhimpur Kheri violence and also, 45 lakh compensation would be given to the families of the four...

Lakhimpur Kheri Violence : Supreme Court To Hear Tomorrow PIL Seeking Proper Investigation

Srishti Ojha

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