Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Ashish Mishra to appear in court amid tight security

Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police will produce to court Ashish Mishra, the son of Junior Home Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra, before a court in connection with the violence that claimed eight lives in the state’s Lakhimpur Kheri district on October 3.

Security had been tightened around the Lakhimpur Kheri sessions court on Monday as the police will seek custody of Ashish, who was arrested on October 9. Ashish is accused of mowing down four people during a protest by farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri against his father’s visit to the area.

He was questioned for 11 hours by a special investigation team (SIT) on October 9 after skipping summons citing health issues. DIG Upendra Agarwal, who is heading the SIT, told reporters that Ashish had been taken into custody “on grounds of non-cooperation and evasive replies.”

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Ashish and h father-son duo have accused the protesters of lynching two BJP workers and the driver of their car. They allege the vehicle overturned after coming under attack ​from the protesters, leading to the death of the four farmers. A local journalist also died in the violence.

Lakhimpur Kheri district jail superintendent P P Singh said Mishra was being housed in quarantine barrack number 21 designated for new jail inmates, reports news agency ANI.

The police also arrested two alleged close associates of Ashish on October 7.

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The arrests came after the Supreme Court asked for a status report from the UP government on the investigation.

Ajay Kumar and Ashish have accused the protesters of lynching two BJP workers and the driver of their car, allege the vehicle in question overturned after coming under attack. Ashish has also claimed that he he was at a wrestling event around 4-5 km from the scene of the violence. The police, however, have reportedly established his location in and around the crime scene with help of mobile tower location.

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A First Information Report or FIR registered by Mishra’s aides against the farmers claims that his driver Hari Om was driving the the vehicle that allegedly ran over the farmers. However, a video analysed by the police shows the driver was wearing a white shirt or kurta, while Hari Om was found wearing a yellow kurta, reports NDTV.