Lakhimpur | 'He Is Innocent': MoS Misra, After Son Ashish Skips Police Summons
An FIR under the charges of murder and rioting has been filed against Union Minister Ajay Misra's son Ashish Misra.
Ashish Misra, the son of Union Minister Ajay Teni Misra and the 'main accused' in the Lakhimpur case has been summoned again by the police.
(Photo: Altered by The Quint)
Ashish Misra, the son of Union Minister Ajay Teni Misra and the 'main accused' in the Lakhimpur case, on Friday, 8 October, was summoned by the Uttar Pradesh police again. This comes after he snubbed summons the first time around and did not show up on Friday, as had been directed to him.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, on Friday, said that it was "not satisfied with the actions taken by the state" in the Lakhimpur Kheri case. Fixing 20 October as the next date of hearing, the court sought for steps to be taken to ensure evidence is protected.
Eight persons, including four farmers, were reported dead in Lakhimpur on Sunday. Unrest had ensued in the area after three protesting farmers had allegedly been run over by a convoy of cars, one of which was purportedly driven by Union Minister Ajay Teni Misra's son.
"We have full faith in law. My son is innocent. He will appear before police Saturday to record statement," Union Minister Ajay Misra, who arrived in Lucknow on Friday, was quoted as saying by PTI.
2 persons accused in the Lakhimpur violence case – Luvkush and Ashish Pandey – were arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police on Thursday
Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi, as well as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, met the families of the farmers who lost their lives in the unrest in Lakhimpur
A new version of an earlier video clip that showed an SUV purportedly ramming into protesting farmers from behind in Lakhimpur Kheri emerged on Thursday
Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, demanding that the police arrest Ashish Misra, is observing a fast and a 'maun vrat'
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SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav Demands Rs 2 Cr for Victims' Families
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav wants Rs 2 crore and government jobs for the families of the victims killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident on Sunday, 3 October.
He also said on Thursday that internet services had been suspended in the area so that people do not share videos and the truth about the incident does not reach the rest of the country.
Sidhu Threatens to Go on Hunger Strike if Ashish Misra Is Not Arrested
Punjab Pradesh Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Thursday said that he would go on a hunger strike if the Uttar Pradesh police do not arrest Union minister’s son Ashish Mishra till Friday or if he refuses to join the probe.
No Trace of Ashish Misra: SKM After BJP Minister's Son Skips Police Summons
Ashish Misra, the son of Union Minister Ajay Teni Misra and the main accused in the Lakhimpur unrest, did not show up at the crime branch office in Kheri district at 10 am on Friday, 8 October, despite having been summoned.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) in a statement pointed out that there is "no trace of Ashish Mishra" and expressed serious concerns at the fact that Mishra and multiple others allegedly involved in the 'Lakhimpur Kheri Farmers Massacre' have still not been arrested.
The SKM also shared that "news reports indicate that he is changing locations and is absconding, with several UP Police teams searching for him."
Further the SKM alleged: "UP Government and Ajay Mishra Teni are deploying protective tactics to ensure that Ashish Mishra is roaming free."
'Govt Hasn't Been Listening to Farmers': Akali Dal Delegation En Route to Lakhimpur
A Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) delegation has reportedly arrived at Lucknow airport. They are slated to visit Lakhimpur Kheri to meet families of farmers who lost their lives in recent violence
"Govt hasn't been listening to farmers, and now farmers have been killed. We stand with farmers," SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal was quoted by ANI as saying.
Prashant Kishor Takes a Dig at Congress
Political strategist Prashant Kishor took to social media to take a dig at the Congress party.
"People looking for a quick, spontaneous revival of GOP (Grand Old Party) led opposition based on Lakhimpur Kheri incident are setting themselves up for a big disappoinment. Unfortunately, there are no quick fix solutions to the deep-rooted problems and structural weakness of GOP," he said.
SC Resumes Hearing; Matter 'Passed Over' For a Short Period
The apex court on Friday, 8 October, resumed hearing in the Lakhimpur Kheri case, but the matter has been 'passed over' for a short period as senior advocate Harish Salve, who is representing the Uttar Pradesh government, was not available at the moment.
The hearing is expected to resume soon.
SC Resumes Lakhimpur Kheri Hearing
The apex court has resumed hearing in the Lakhimpur Kheri case. Harish Salve is representing the state of Uttar Pradesh.
'Young Man' to Appear Tomorrow or State Will Proceed Against Him With Rigour of Law: UP Govt
Without naming the accused, senior advocate Harish Salve, representing the UP government, says:
"We have issued notice to the young man. He has till 11 am tomorrow to appear, otherwise we will proceed against him with rigour of the law."
Salve also said if the allegations are true, then it "could be a 302 (IPC) case".
Section 302 of the IPC is punishment for murder.
State Seeks Hearing Post Dussehra Break
The state has requested the apex court to conduct a hearing of the case after the Dussehra break.
Senior advocate Harish Salve, who is representing the state, also said that what the state government has done in the case “is not satisfactory.”
Further he added:
“I will take this to them and hopefully by 18th, you will see they have taken action.”
'Not Satisfied With Actions Taken by the State': Supreme Court on Lakhimpur Case
Stating that “The officers who are involved cannot continue," the top court asked for the DGP to "be told to take steps to ensure evidence is protected.”
Further the Supreme Court, in its order, said:
The matter will be heard further on 20 October as the first case.
'Appear Before Crime Branch Tomorrow': Accused Ashish Misra Summoned Again
'Main accused' in the Lakhimpur Kheri case and son of MoS Ajay Teni Misra has been summoned again and told to appear before the crime branch office at 11 am on Saturday. This comes after he snubbed summons earlier on Friday.
The summons notice was pasted outside the residence of the Union minister.
'Guilty Will Not Be Spared, No Pressure or Post Will Be of Use': UP Deputy CM on Lakhimpur Unrest
Lakhimpur's incident is unfortunate and investigation is underway on it. Guilty will not be spared. We want to ensure people of the state that at no cost culprits will be spared and no post or pressure will be of use for accused," said Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, ANI reported.
UP Police Stops SAD Delegation From Visiting Lakhimpur
A delegation of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was forcibly stopped by the UP police from visiting Lakhimpur, the party said.
Akhilesh Yadav Meets Kin of Slain Farmer Daljeet Singh in Bahraich
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, on Friday, met the family of farmer Daljeet Singh, who had lost his lives in the Lakhimpur unrest on Sunday.
Yadav promised the families that he would provide all possible help and support them in their struggle for justice, the party said on Twitter.
Earlier in the day, Yadav, speaking to ANI, had said, "As per media reports, he (Ashish Mishra) has run away to Nepal. If this is true, then, the Government of India should intervene in this matter."
The leader had also reiterated the demand for the arrest of MoS Misra's son, Ashish Misra, the main accused in the case.
Union Minister Ajay Misra Reaches Lucknow
Union Minister of State (Home) Ajay Teni Misra, whose son is the main accused in the Lakhimpur unrest, has seen arriving at the Lucknow airport.
'Minister's Son Has Run Away to Nepal': AAP Leader Raghav Chadha
"The Minister's son has run away to Nepal (Mantri ka lal, Bhaag gaya Nepal)," tweets Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Raghav Chadha in Hindi, amid speculations that Union Minister Misra's son, Ashish Misra, has absconded.
'My Son Is Innocent, Action Will Be Taken Against Guilty': Union Minister Ajay Misra
"We have full faith in law. My son is innocent. He will appear before police Saturday to record statement," MoS Ajay Misra was quoted as saying by PTI.
"This is a BJP government and there will be unbiased probe. Action will be taken against those guilty," he said.
'No Such Video': Yogi Adityanath on Involvement of MoS Misra's Son
Speaking about the violence that had ensued in Lakhimpur, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Friday, was quoted as saying by PTI:
"There is no place for violence in democracy, and when the law is giving guarantee to secure everyone, there is no need to take it into one's hands, whosoever they be."
When asked about Union Minister Ajay Misra's son involvement in the unrest, Adityanath said, "There is no such video. We have issued numbers, and if anyone has evidence, they can upload it. All will be crystal clear. There will be no injustice with anyone. No one will be allowed to take the law in his hand but no action will be taken under any pressure."
"We will not arrest anyone on allegations. But yes, if someone is guilty, he will also not be spared irrespective of who he is," he was quoted as saying by PTI.
"The arrests of those whose videos have come and involvement was confirmed have started," the chief minister added.
Shiromani Akali Dal Delegation Meets Kin of Slain Farmer
A delegation of the Shiromani Akali Dal, including party leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal, met the family of farmer Lovepreet Singh who had lost his life in the Lakhimpur unrest.
"The Shiromani Akali Dal delegation shared the grief of the loss of Lovepreet's entire family and assured that the Akali Dal would make every effort to bring them to justice," the SAD tweeted in Punjabi.
Akhilesh Yadav Meets Kin of Slain Farmer Gurvinder Singh
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav visited the family of deceased farmer Gurvinder Singh in Bahraich, and expressed his condolences.
'Our Govt Investigating the Matter Without Bias': MoS Ajay Misra
Union Minister Ajay Misra on Friday stated that "our (BJP) government" is probing the Lakhimpur violence, in which Misra's son is accused, in an impartial manner.
"We've all the evidence. My son is currently at his residence in Lakhimpur Kheri. Our government is investigating the matter without any bias, we'll take action against accused. Opposition is doing negative politics because they can't deal with PM's popularity," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
'Son Would've Been Killed if He Was There': MoS Ajay Misra
Union Minister Ajay Misra, whose son, Ashish Misra, is the main accused in the Lakhimpur violence case, told reporters on Friday:
"My son would have been killed if he was present at the spot. FIR would not have been registered if any other political party was in power."
Ashish Misra, who had been called by the police to record his statement on Friday morning, had skipped the summons. Minister of State Ajay Misra said that Ashish had evaded the summons as he had been keeping unwell.
Navjot Sidhu-led Delegation Meets Kin of Slain Farmer Lovepreet
A Punjab Congress delegation, led by the party's state unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, meet the family of farmer Lovepreet Singh, who had lost his life in the unrest in Lakhimpur.
"Justice Delayed - Justice Denied… With family of brave heart Lovepreet Singh (20), victim of brutal murders by Union Minister’s son," Sidhu tweeted after the meeting.
Navjot Sidhu Goes on Hunger Strike, 'Maun Vrat'
Punjab Congress chief has announced that he will be observing a fast as well as maun (silence) till action is not taken against Ashish Misra, the main accused in the Lakhimpur violence case.
Until against is taken against Ashish, the son of Misraji (Ajay Misra Teni), till he does not participate in the investigation, I will go on hunger strike here. After this, I will observe silence, and will not anything," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
'Police Arrested Me Without FIR but Can't Arrest Ashish Misra': Priyanka Gandhi
"Police arrested me without any FIR but they're not able to arrest the person against whom an FIR has been registered. Eyewitnesses are saying that he (Ashish Mishra) was present there," Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said, retaliating to Union Minister Ajay Misra's statement denying that his son was present at the site of the unrest.
Gandhi had been detained for nearly two days by the Uttar Pradesh police in Sitapur, after she was stopped from travelling to Lakhimpur on Monday.
'Police Treating MoS's Son Like Their Son-in-Law': Randeep Surjewala
"The keeper of the law and order of the country is the Home Minister of the country. When the son of the Minister of State for Home of the country is a criminal, the police treat him like the son-in-law of the police, he becomes the son-in-law of the administration. If he is treated like the son-in-law of the police, then who will catch the criminals and who will implement the constitution and law?" asked Congress leader Randeep Surjewala in a press conference on Friday.
In Photos: Navjot Singh Sidhu Observes Hunger Strike
Navjot Singh Sidhu is observing a fast and a 'maun vrat' (silence) at the residence of journalist Raman Kashyap, who lost his life in the Lakhimpur unrest on Sunday.
Sidhu has said that he will continue to fast until action is taken against MoS Misra's son, who is the main accused in the case.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka's 'Political Tourism' Is Unfortunate: Anurag Thakur
Union Minister Anurag Thakur, calling Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi's visit to the families of the deceased farmers 'political tourism,' suggested that the Congress leaders don't believe in the judicial probe into the incident.
"I think some people don't believe in the judicial process. Those who're doing political tourism (in UP over Lakhimpur incident) is unfortunate. Several crime incidents took place in Rajasthan, Punjab and Chhattisgarh but Priyanka and Rahul never visited there," he was quoted as saying by ANI.