The Supreme Court heard the killing of the farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri today and has expressed dismay at the way it is being dealt with for the third time in recent weeks.
The hearing was convened two weeks after the previous session in which the Supreme Court asked the UP government why there were “only 23 eyewitnesses” to the October 3 violence, when thousands are believed to be present at the scene at the time.
The Supreme Court’s decision of October 26th ordered the UP government to register the testimony of other witnesses and to grant them protection. During today’s hearing, the Supreme Court said they are unsatisfied with what has been curbed out of investigation yet, hence are inclined to appoint a retired High Court judge to oversee the day-to-day investigation into the Lakhimpur Kheri case. The UP government has been asked to respond to this proposal on Friday. Eight people, including four farmers and a journalist, were killed on October 3 during a farmer protest in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh where they were run over by an SUV allegedly owned by Union Minister Ajay Mishra.
Ashish Mishra, son of the Union Minister, is accused of driving the car. Several videos show the vehicle ramming a group of farmers from behind. All 14 accused including Aashish Mishra, son of Union Minister have been arrested in the case so far.
