Police in Uttar Pradesh are attempting to “recreate” the tragic events that occurred earlier this month in Lakhimpur Kheri, where four peacefully protesting farmers and a journalist were mowed down by a convoy of three vehicles, one of which belongs to Union Minister Ajay Mishra.
The police have taken Mr Mishra’s son, Ashish, who is accused of the farmers’ murder, as well as his friend and co-accused Ankit Das, to the area and are reenacting the events of that day with cop cars.
Ashish Mishra has stated that he was not present at the time of the murders, claiming that he was at his ancestral village (about two kilometres distant) and stayed there all day.
Journalists on the site captured footage of a police jeep speeding down the road, smashing dummies (meant to symbolise the farmers who were ran over).
Another video shows the crime scene taped off; nevertheless, this has raised questions about why the police did not secure the scene immediately after the occurrence and provide unfiltered access to everyone, including the media, for at least 48 hours.
Despite being identified in the FIR, Ashish Mishra was detained last week after spending nearly seven days as a free man (first information report). A local court denied him bail yesterday.
The police remand period expires today, but they are expected to seek additional custody so that they can question him.
After an intervention by the Supreme Court, which asked UP Police if it was treating Ashish Mishra differently because of his high-profile father, Ashish was arrested after 12 hours of questioning by members of the police team formed to investigate the Lakhimpur incident. That questioning came after an intervention by the Supreme Court, which asked UP Police if it was treating Ashish Mishra differently because of his high-profile father.
The police had previously disputed that Ashish Mishra’s clear familial ties influenced their decision.
A special police unit is attempting to reenact the events of October 2, when four farmers were killed in a car accident.
A group of Congress leaders led by Rahul Gandhi met with President Ram Nath Kovind yesterday, urging him to speak with the government about the problem.
The Congress and other opposition parties have requested that Ajay Mishra, who oversees national policing issues as the junior Home Minister, resign in order to ensure a fair investigation.
“The family believe that there will be no justice unless his minister father is removed from office. This is also the demand of the people of the state of Uttar Pradesh, as well as all right-thinking citizens of the country… According to the president, he will consult with the administration “According to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Rahul Gandhi has urged that the Lakhimpur incident, which is currently being examined by a UP Police SIT, be investigated by two sitting Supreme Court judges. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court had already ruled down a CBI inquiry into the killings, citing “those implicated” – a reference to Ajay Mishra.
All allegations against Ashish Mishra and his father have been dismissed.
The car belonged to Mr Mishra’s family, but neither he nor his son were in it at the time, according to NDTV. He has defied all requests to leave; he met with his boss, Amit Shah, earlier last month, and government sources said he would not resign.
(With inputs from NDTV.)
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The Chenab Times News Desk