Lakhimpur violence: Eight people, including four farmers, died in the incident
Union Minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish, accused of running over farmers in Uttar Pradesh, today arrived for questioning in Lakhimpur Kheri, escorted by dozens of cops. He had skipped summons yesterday.
Here are the top 10 developments in this big story:
The UP police have filed a case of murder against Ashish Mishra but have not arrested him so far. Though the Union Minister's son admits the SUV that ran over farmers belongs to him, but he maintains he was not in it.
The UP Police DIG, who waited three hours for Ashish Mishra to show up yesterday, has arrived again at the Lakhimpur police station.
The UP cops have issued notice to Ashish Mishra under Section 160 CrPC, which concerns attendance of witnesses. Legal experts have questioned the notice issued under this section to an accused in a murder case. However, police sources say that a person summoned under Section 160 CrPC can also be arrested based on their statements.
Ajay Mishra had said his son would make an appearance today. He said his son could not answer the summons yesterday due to poor health. Security has been stepped up in the area ahead of the visit by the murder accused son of the minister.
Law must take its course against "whoever is involved", the Supreme Court reminded the Uttar Pradesh government over the Lakhimpur violence amid countrywide outrage. "What is the message that you are sending? Even in normal circumstances... will the police not go immediately and arrest the accused. Things have not proceeded the way they should have. It appears to be only words and not actions," Chief Justice NV Ramana said in a sharp rebuke.
Ashish Mishra has been named in an FIR filed by the farmers who have demanded strict action against him. The FIR says that he drove into the gathering of slogan-shouting farmers amid a peaceful black flag protest. Eight people, including four farmers, died in the incident.
Two people - Luv Kush and Ashish Pandey - were arrested on Thursday as the case reached the Supreme Court. They were reportedly in the same vehicle that ran over a journalist and farmers, the police said.
Ruling out any action in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident under any pressure, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stressed that his government will "not arrest anyone on the basis of allegations". Attacking opposition leaders rushing to meet the affected families in the incident, the Chief Minister said, "They are no goodwill messengers."
Pointing out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets on every issue, Azad Samaj Party chief and Dalit leader Chandrashekhar Azad on Friday urged him to go to Lakhimpur Kheri. Mr Azad said he will gherao the residence of PM Modi if the culprits of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident are not arrested within seven days.
The Congress has said it will take out a "Kisan Nyay" rally in PM Modi's constituency of Varanasi on Sunday. The rally will be addressed by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, says the party poster.
