The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, which claimed eight lives, in its 5,000-page charge sheet has named Union Mishra Ajay Mishra Teni's son Ashish. Ashish, who has already been arrested, was named as the prime accused in the case. So far 13 accused, including Ashish, have been sent to jail.
The name of one more person, Virendra Shukla, has been added in the charge sheet. He has been charged under Section 201 of IPC, according to the prosecution lawyer.
The SIT filed the charge sheet almost three months after the incident that took place in Tikunia village of Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh. Four farmers and a journalist were killed after they were allegedly mowed down by a vehicle. Three BJP workers also lost their lives in the violence. The October 3, 2021 violence in Tikunia broke out when a group of farmers was protesting against the visit of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to Ajay Mishra's native place for an event.
All the accused, including drivers of the three SUVs and associates of Ashish Mishra and former Union Minister Akhilesh Das's nephew Ankit Das, are under arrest and are currently lodged in the Lakhimpur Kheri jail.
While the Allahabad High Court is yet to take a call on the bail application of Ashish Mishra, the bail pleas of the other accused are pending before a local court in Lakhimpur Kheri. The SIT had recently requested a local court to add two charges in the case, attempt to murder and voluntarily causing grievous hurt, against Ashish Mishra and other accused.
The court had admitted the SIT's plea and ordered the addition of the charges, including under sections of the Arms Act.
The SIT had said in a report submitted to the court that the four farmers and the journalist were killed in the violence as part of a "pre-planned conspiracy". The SIT wrote in the report that the deaths "did not happen due to negligence or callousness" and that accused persons' actions were "deliberate with an intention to kill".
READ MORE: Lakhimpur Kheri: SIT seeks attempt to murder charge against Ashish Mishra, says incident 'well planned'
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