Supreme Court To Hear On Lakhimpur Kheri Violence Tomorrow

The hearing on Lakhimpur Kheri violence will be heard by Supreme Court on Wednesday, October 20. Eight persons, including four farmers, lost their lives in the incidents of violence during a farmers’ protest on October 3.  

The issue will be heard by a Bench comprising of Chief Justice of India, NV Ramana, and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli after a letter was written by two lawyers seeking a high-level judicial inquiry in the incident. The inquiry of incident is done by the CBI and all important shreds of evidence are furnished by them.

Supreme Court had expressed dissatisfaction over the steps taken by the Uttar Pradesh government in the violence killing eight persons. Ten people, including Ashish Mishra, the son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ajay Kumar Mishra ‘Teni’, have been arrested so far in connection with the violence.

Supreme Court had said that it is “not satisfied” with the action taken by the Uttar Pradesh government in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence and also questioned the State on why accused Ashish Mishra was not arrested.

Ashish Mishra had allegedly hit farmers with his car. The police had served a notice to him and summoned him for questioning. Supreme Court had said that the Uttar Pradesh government is not proceeding in the manner in which it should proceed against the accused.

Supreme Court had asked the UP government whether in other murder cases the police issue summons instead of arresting the accused. The court said not arresting the accused is sending a wrong message in public domain.

The Bench had further observed that transferring the case to CBI for investigation is also not a solution. Supreme Court then ordered the DGP of the UP government to protect evidence and other materials in the case and to not destroy all in the interim by the time another agency takes it over.

During the hearing of the case on violence in Lakhimpur Kheri, the top court had expressed apprehension over the fair probe in the case because of officers involved in the case, saying that it has seen details of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up to probe the matter, and the DIG, Superintendent of Police, Circle Officers, etc. all are local people.

The Bench was hearing a letter petition by two advocates — Shiv Kumar Tripathi and CS Panda seeking punishment for politicians allegedly involved in the ghastly incident. The letter stated, “Having regard to the seriousness of the killing of the farmers at district Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, it is incumbent upon this Court to intervene in the matter as flashed in the press.”

A single-member Commission of Enquiry with headquarters at Lakhimpur Kheri has been constituted to investigate the death of eight persons in Lakhimpur Kheri. Uttar Pradesh government has appointed retired Allahabad High Court judge Pradeep Kumar Srivastava as single member Commission to inquire into the incident and inquiry to be completed within a period of two months.

Earlier, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, AICC general secretary (organization) KC Venugopal, party MP Deepender Hooda, and Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president Ajay Kumar Lallu, visited the victim’s families.

Local farmers blame Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra `Teni` and his son for the violence that left eight dead, including four farmers a local journalist, and others. They were mowed down by the vehicle which was part of the convoy of the Minister in Lakhimpur Kheri in north-central Uttar Pradesh.