Lakhimpur: 2 Arrested; Priyanka Gandhi Meets Kin of Slain Farmers in Bahraich
Two persons accused in the Lakhimpur violence are being questioned, and summons have been sent to Ashish Misra.
Samyukt Kisan Morcha and various social activists burn effigy of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Teni Misra and his son, Ashish Misra.
(Photo: PTI)
The Uttar Pradesh police on Friday, 7 October, arrested two persons accused in the Lakhimpur violence. The police has also sent summons to the main accused, Ashish Misra, son of Union Minister Ajay Teni Misra.
Meanwhile, a Navjot Singh Sidhu-led convoy of vehicles of the Punjab Congress, that was proceeding to Lakhimpur Kheri in protest, was stopped by the Uttar Pradesh police at the interstate border, following which Sidhu was reportedly detained. He was subsequently released.
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 Misra's son.
The Supreme Court, which had taken suo motu cognisance of the Lakhimpur incident on Wednesday, said on Thursday, "Who are the accused and have they been arrested?" The matter will be heard again on Friday.
Snapshot
The UP government has set up a single-member commission of inquiry to investigate the death of eight persons in Lakhimpur Kheri
An FIR under the charges of murder and rioting had been filed against Union Minister of State Misra's son on Monday
A new version of an earlier video clip that showed an SUV purportedly ramming into protesting farmers from behind in Lakhimpur Kheri has emerged
The Maharashtra government has called for a statewide bandh on 11 October, to protest against the violence that ensued in Lakhimpur Kheri
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha has reiterated its demand for the arrest of Ashish Misra, and the sacking of Union Minister Misra
A Congress delegation led by Rahul Gandhi, along with Priyanka Gandhi had met the kin of slain farmers in Lakhimpur on Wednesday
UP Police Sets Up 9-Member Monitoring Committee for Lakhimpur Case
The Uttar Pradesh police has constituted a 9-member monitoring committee led by DIG (Headquarters) Upendra Agrawal in the Lakhimpur violence case against persons including Union Minister Ajay Kumar Misra's son Ashish, ANI reported.
Navjot Singh Sidhu Released From Detention, Proceeds to Lakhimpur
Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had been detained by the UP police earlier today, had been released and is proceeding towards Lakhimpur, ANI reported.
5 people, including some ministers and MLA of Punjab, have been permitted to proceed in four different vehicles, Preetinder Singh, DIG, Saharanpur Range, told ANI.
Priyanka Gandhi Meets Kin of Slain Farmers, Demands MoS Misra's Resignation
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, on Thursday, met the families of farmers Gurvinder Singh and Daljeet Singh, who had lost their lives in the unrest in Lakhimpur on Sunday.
Gandhi expressed her condolences to the bereaved families.
"They're demanding justice. MoS Home should resign from his post & accused should be arrested," she was quoted as saying after the meeting.
"PM Modi need to think what kind of message he is giving to nation. Why he (MoS Home Ajay Mishra) is still in PM Modi's govt? Doesn't he (PM Modi) have any moral responsibility? Why has the minister not been terminated yet?" Gandhi added.
Rajasthan Congress Burns Effigies of Lakhimpur 'Killers,' Demands Hanging
The Rajasthan Congress, on Thursday, demonstrated against the unrest that had ensued in Lakhimpur. The agitation was held in Bharatpur, near the Uttar Pradesh border.
The Rajasthan Congress burned effigies of the 'killers' in the Lakhimpur unrest case, and demanded that they be hanged, the state unit of the party said on Twitter.
Earlier, the Congress unit of Rajasthan had planned to march to Lakhimpur.
"The march from Uncha Nangla to Lakhimpur Kheri was planned because Priyanka Gandhi was under detention. Now she has been released and she has met the families (of those killed in the violence) there so we dropped the plan to march to Lakhimpur Kheri," Govind Dotasra, president of the Rajasthan Congress, was quoted as saying by PTI.
'We Take Agitation From Struggle to Solution, Govt Takes it From Solution to Struggle': Tikait
"We take agitation from struggle to solution and the government takes it from solution to struggle. This is the difference between us and them," Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait told ANI, when asked if he had mediated between the government and the families of the farmers who died in Lakhimpur.
"Solution will come only after talks. Farmers, victims' families, and the administration reached a consensus after talks of 6 hours," he added.
2 Persons Accused in Lakhimpur Violence Arrested
Two persons accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, Luvkush and Ashish Pandey, have been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police.
In addition to the main accused Ashish Misra, the names of 6 more accused persons have surfaced, of which 3 had died during the unrest, the UP police said.
Two used cartridges of 0.315 bore have been recovered from one of the two cars that was torched in the incident, the police has said.
Ashish Misra Summoned to Appear Before Police on Friday
'Main accused' Ashish Misra, son of Union Minister Ajay Teni Misra, has been issued summons to appear before the police at the crime branch office, reserve police lines, Kheri district, on Friday at 10am to record his statement.
The summons notice was pasted at the entrance of MoS Misra's residence.
'BJP Leaders & Sons Feel Farmers Should Be Crushed by Vehicles to Stop Protests': Rahul Gandhi
"BJP leaders and their sons are beginning to feel that farmers should be crushed by vehicles to deal with the agrarian movement," tweeted Rahul Gandhi.
'BJP Govt Biased, SC Hearing of Lakhimpur Case Gave People Hope of Justice': Mayawati
Calling the BJP-led central government "biased," Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati said that the Supreme Court's hearing on the Lakhimpur violence case was heartening.
"In relation to the heinous Lakhimpur Kheri incident, in which 8 people including 4 agitating farmers and journalists died, the hearing started by the Supreme Court today gave people the hope of relief and proper justice, because the attitude of the BJP government in this matter also seems to be mostly biased," she tweeted in Hindi.
Navjot Sidhu, Others Detained by Police at Saharanpur
Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had been leading a vehicular march by the party's state unit to Lakhimpur, was detained by the Uttar Pradesh police at Saharanpur near the state border.
In addition to Sidhu, Punjab Congress leaders Amarinder Singh Raja, Gurkirat Singh Kotli, Vijay Inder Singla, and Kuljit Nagra were also taken into police custody, the party said.
The leaders, along with a number of party MLAs and workers, have been taken to Sarsawa police station.
After Punjab Congress Convoy Stopped, Scuffle Breaks Out With Cops
As a convoy of Punjab Congress vehicles proceeding to Lakhimpur were halted by the UP police at the state border, a scuffle ensued between the Congress leaders and the cops.
"You won't do anything against the Union minister and his son but stop us from sharing the grief of the victim families," Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was leading the march to Lakhimpur, was quoted as saying to the police by ANI.
Punjab Congress workers reportedly attempted to breach the barricades that have been instated in Shajahanpur, near the UP border, to stop their entry into the state.
'Two Accused Being Questioned, Summons Sent to Ashish Misra': Lucknow Police
"Two people are being questioned. They've confirmed the role of three others who are dead. Technically, they have also been accounted for. These people are giving a lot of information. We are sending summon to the main accused (Ashish Misra) for questioning," Lucknow Inspector-General Laxmi Singh was quoted as saying by ANI.
Singh added that Misra's statement will be recorded, following which further evidence will be collected by the police.
"The accused named in the FIR have been called for questioning. If they don't turn up, we'll go to court and follow up the legal process. Teams have been set up for arrest and for questioning the accused," she said.
"Two persons have been taken into custody and are being questioned in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. Police have recovered empty bullet shells at violence site," ANI reported, citing UP government sources.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General Singh maintained that incidents of firing have not been confirmed:
"Incidents of firing or any firearm injuries have not been confirmed. Therefore, we will have to proceed with other evidence that have been given to us."
Sidhu-Led Punjab Congress March Stopped at UP Border
The Navjot Singh Sidhu-led Punjab Congress' march to Lakhimpur was halted by the Uttar Pradesh police at the Yamuna Nagar (Haryana)- Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh) border.
Punjab Congress workers and leaders have reportedly been stopped at Shahajahanpur near UP border.
Haryana Congress Marches Towards Lakhimpur
The Haryana Congress unit also organised a march towards Lakhimpur Kheri from Panipat.
The state unit, under the leadership of president Kumari Selja, and Congress leaders Bhupinder Singh and Vivek Bansal, is marching in protest against the unrest that had ensued in Lakhimpur on Sunday.
Akhilesh Yadav Meets Kin of Slain Journalist
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav met with the family of journalist Raman Kashyap, who lost his life in the Lakhimpur unrest on Sunday, and expressed his condolences.
"National President Shri Akhilesh Yadav ji reached Lakhimpur to share the pain of the victims of 'genocide' of the ruling authorities in Lakhimpur. Tributes paid to martyr journalist Raman Kashyap by visiting his residence in Nighasan and expressed condolences to the family," the party tweeted.
'Will Arrest Those Accused Soon': Lucknow Police on Lakhimpur Unrest
"For an unbiased probe, district-level committee has started its work. A judicial investigation commission under Justice HC Allahabad (Retd.) formed by the govt. We've issued a WhatsApp number & appealed public to send evidences on it," Laxmi Singh, Inspector-General, Lucknow Range was quoted as saying by ANI.
"The district-level committee will investigate matter and submit the chargesheet in court while judicial investigation commission will conduct inquiry of the whole incident. Based on evidences, we'll soon arrest all accused involved in this incident," Singh added, alluding to the Lakhimpur Kheri case.
Samajwadi Party Prez Akhilesh Yadav Meets Kin of Slain Farmer
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav met with the family of Lovepreet Singh, a farmer who had lost his life in the Lakhimpur unrest on Sunday.
"Investigation should be done under the monitoring of the retired sitting judge, he should see what has happened. We are with you, whatever you need, we will help you. W will give the family government job if our government is formed," Yadav said during the interaction.
Uttarakhand Congress 'Detained' at UP Border
As per the Congress party, a large delegation of the Uttarakhand Congress, that had been proceeding towards Lakhimpur, was detained by the Uttar Pradesh police at the interstate border.
Congress leaders Ganesh Godiyal and Harish Rawat are part of the Uttarakhand Congress delegation that is journeying towards Lakhimpur in protest.
'If MoS Misra Doesn't Resign, How Will Kin of Farmers Get Justice?': Priyanka Gandhi
"People in this country have the right to justice and justice has not been received yet. Because until the Minister of State for Home is not dismissed, who will conduct a fair investigation, how will they get justice," said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, national general secretary of the Congress.
Alluding to the Congress leaders' visit to the families of the slain farmers on Wednesday, Gandhi said, "To stop us, the entire police force was deployed, there was a blockade. Not only to stop us, but police force was also deployed around the families that no one came. But where was the police on the day the incident happened?"
Earlier on Thursday, Gandhi had demanded that an inquiry into the Lakhimpur unrest be conducted under a sitting judge of the Supreme Court or the High Court:
"In my view and also in the view of families, the inquiry should be conducted by a sitting judge of Supreme Court or High Court and not a retired judge. For a fair investigation, the Minister of State for Home should resign on moral grounds."
Rajasthan Congress Proceeds Towards Lakhimpur
The Rajasthan Congress, under the leadership of state unit president Govind Dostara, proceeds towards Lakhimpur in a convoy of hundreds of vehicles.
'Will Go on Hunger Strike From Tomorrow if Minister's Son Not Arrested': Sidhu
"If the Minister's son is not arrested, I will go on hunger strike from tomorrow," says Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday.
'Lakhimpur Chalo': Uttarakhand Congress Proceeds to UP District
The Uttarakhand Congress, under the leadership of party leader Harish Rawat, proceeds from Bajpur towards Lakhimpur Kheri, to protest against the deaths of farmers in the UP district on Sunday.
Punjab Congress Marches Towards Lakhimpur
The Punjab Congress, led by Navjot Sindh Sidhu, is marching towards Lakhimpur, to protest against the unrest that had ensued in the district on Sunday.
"Against Lakhimpur Kheri massacre and to bring justice to the martyr families, the Punjab Congress MLAs, workers, and leaders, under the leadership of President Navjot Singh Sidhu, march towards Lakhimpur Kheri," the Congress party said in a tweet in Hindi.
Hours After Tweet on Lakhimpur, BJP MP Varun Gandhi Dropped From Party's Top Body
Hours after the BJP MP Varun Gandhi shared a purported video of the mowing down of farmers in Lakhimpur, he was dropped from the party's national executive committee.
His mother, Maneka Gandhi, too, did not feature in the list of names for the BJP top body, which was announced on Thursday.
"This video is crystal clear. Protestors cannot be silenced through murder. There has to be accountability for the innocent blood of farmers that has been spilled and justice must be delivered before a message of arrogance and cruelty enters the minds of every farmer," Gandhi had tweeted on Thursday.
MoS Ajay Mishra Inaugurates National Conference of Heads of Prisons
Minister of State (MoS) Ajay Mishra - whose son Ashish has not been arrested despite being named in a murder case connected with the death of eight people at Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday - inaugurated the seventh National Conference of Heads of Prisons of all States/ Union Territories at BPR&D Headquarters, on Thursday, 7 October.
The theme of the Conference was “Preparing a Decadal Road Map for the Prisons and Correctional Services.”
The media, earlier invited to cover the event, was not allowed in, according to NDTV.
MoS Nityanand Rai Walks Off Event On Being Asked About Lakhimpur
An angry Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, the chief guest at the annual function of Meerut Rapid Action Force, walked off a press conference on being asked to comment on Lakhimpur Kheri incident. After the minister walked out, the Central Resereve Police Force Director General Kuldeep Singh asked the media to stop irritating people and to go out of the campus and ask all such questions.
UP Police Files FIR Against Ajay Misra's Son For Murder
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Police has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Union minister Ajay Misra's son Ashish for murder. Mishra and his son, however, maintain that he (Ashish) was not present at the spot and was not driving the car. The minister also met Home Minister Amit Shah, earlier on Wednesday.
Matter To Be Taken Up Again Tomorrow
Following the UP government's request to list the matter tomorrow (Friday), the Court was adjourned for Thursday. The matter will be taken up again tomorrow.
The UP government informed the Court that they will be filing a status report on Friday, including on status of PIL in Allahabad High Court.
'Who Are The Accused And Have They Been Arrested?' SC Asks UP Govt's Counsel to Clarify
The Supreme Court has asked the UP Government's counsel Garima Parishad to clarify in their status report who are the accused persons against whom the FIR has been registered and if they have been arrested.
The apex court also directed the authorities to admit mother of one of the victims to a government hospital for medical care immediately.
Lawyer Who Filed Petition Wants Registration of FIR
Stating that the UP government has not taken steps, the lawyer who filed petition sought for registration of an FIR against those involved in the matter.
Meanwhile, the UP government says that an FIR has already been registered. They also point out that an SIT has been set up, and share that a commission of enquiry has been constituted.
Incidentally, the commission of enquiry was constituted only hours prior to the Supreme Court hearing.
Bench Resumes Hearing
After the advocates who had written to the CJI seeking CBI probe in the Lakhimpur Kheri incidents, appeared before the court, the bench resumed hearing.
Matter Passed Over
The Supreme Court on Thursday, 7 October, began hearing the case registered by it in connection with the events at Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district on 3 October. However, the matter was passed over shortly afterwards as the court sought for the two advocates who wrote to the CJI seeking CBI probe in the case to appear. The hearing is slated to resume soon.
Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav Leaves for Lakhimpur Kheri
Former UP chief minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who is en route to Lakhimpur Kheri, too, says he hopes the Supreme Court will give justice to the affected families.
"How can you hope that justice will be given when MoS Home himself threatens people. Supreme Court has taken suo moto cognizance in this matter & we hope that justice will be given to affected families," he says.
Taking a shot at the law and order situation in UP, he says, "BJP is indulging in politics. They are good at it. Even in the Gorakhpur businessman's death case, the officers responsible are still on the run."
Union Minister Ajay Misra Must Resign: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra asks for Union Minister Ajay Misra's resignation, while saying she will continue to fight for justice.
"Justice is a right in a democracy. All the affected families I met yesterday only demanded justice. The Union minister needs to resign to ensure an unbiased investigation," she tells ANI.
'Protesters Can't Be Silenced Through Murder': BJP MP Varun Gandhi Seeks Justice for Farmers
BJP MP Varun Gandhi, on Thursday, took to Twitter to share a video allegedly of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident and call for justice for farmers.
Single Member Enquiry Commission Constituted to Probe Lakhimpur Kheri Deaths
A single-member commission of enquiry, with headquarters at Lakhimpur Kheri, has been set up by the UP government to probe the death of eight persons in Lakhimpur Kheri.
The Commission has been asked to complete the probe within a period of two months.
New Video Surfaces
A new video, purportedly of the incident has also surfaced, showing an SUV ramming into protesting farmers from behind, confirming statements of the farmers, who claimed that it had caught them without warning.
PM Must Answer Why MoS Hasn't Been Dismissed Yet: Kapil Sibal
Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal says Prime Minister Narendra Modi must answer as to why the minister, whose jeep led to the death of so many farmers and other people, has not yet been dismissed. He also asks for immediate investigation and arrest.
Jharkhand Congress Leaders Stopped From Visiting Lakhimpur
Jharkhand Congress leaders, who were on their way to Lakhimpur Kheri, were stopped near Wyndhamganj by the Uttar Pradesh Police late on Wednesday night.
SC to Hear Lakhimpuri Kheri Matter Today
A Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana will take up the Lakhimpur Kheri matter today (Thursday).
The matter will be heard by a bench led by CJI NV Ramana, which also includes Justices Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli.
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