Highlights:
- A three-judge panel led by CJI NV Ramana is hearing the Lakhimpur Kheri case suo-moto.
- On Sunday, eight people were killed in the UP district during a farmers’ protest.
- Senior advocate Harish Salve is representing the UP Government
The state government notified the Supreme Court at a suo-moto hearing on the issue that Ashish, the son of Union minister Ajay Mishra ‘Teni,’ who has been charged in connection with violence in Lakhimpur Kheri, will appear before the Uttar Pradesh Police on October 9. “A young man (Ashish Mishra) who is being targeted has been given notice and he will appear tomorrow at 11am, ” said Advocate Harish Salve, arguing for the state government.
An outburst of anger erupted throughout the country when eight people were killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri region while farmers protested the Centre’s three laws. Four farmers and a journalist were among those killed in the case. The event sparked widespread criticism of the Uttar Pradesh government, which is led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yogi Adityanath.
During the hearing, the court also voiced its displeasure with the state government’s probe of the issue so far. It then directed the UP government to inform the Supreme Court of an alternate agency suitable of conducting the investigation.
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A bench led by Chief Justice NV Ramana also directed the UP-government’s state police chief to ensure that the relevant evidence is safeguarded till another agency takes over.
“We are not satisfied with the action taken by the UP government so far. We expect responsible government and police. The allegations are very serious, including gunshot injuries,” NV Ramana, Chief Justice, stated during the hearing.
The Supreme Court also questioned the state government for failing to arrest the accused against whom a FIR had been filed. It then inquired if it handled “accused in other murder cases in the country in the same way.”
“What is the message you are sending?” asked the bench, which also includes Hima Kohli and Justices Surya Kant.
The case has been scheduled for a hearing on October 20th by the Supreme Court.
On October 3, an SUV drove over a crowd of farmers returning from a protest against the Centre’s three farm laws. Farmers claim that the Union minister’s son Ashish was in the car when it hit protestors. However, Ajay Mishra has rejected the claims, stating that his son was not there at the time of the incident. Some miscreants mingled with protesting farmers and hurled stones at the SUV, resulting in the “unfortunate incident,” according to Ajay Mishra.
The incident is being investigated by police, and a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against Ashish Mishra and others in Tikonia police station under section 302 of the IPC.
