Lakhimpur Kheri updates: Police arrest two accused; Navjot Singh Sidhu's march halted near Saharanpur

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

SAD delegation to visit Lakhimpur Kheri

A five-member Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) delegation will on Thursday leave for Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh to meet the families of farmers killed in violence during a protest four days ago, party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said. He said the delegation would also meet representatives of the Uttar Pradesh government and urge them to arrest the perpetrators of the violence immediately.

“The SAD is very clear. All those responsible for this massacre should be put behind bars immediately, no matter how powerful they are,” Badal said in a statement here. The delegation will comprise former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder, former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Bibi Jagir Kaur and MLA Bikram Singh Majithia, the SAD chief said.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates

Police arrest Ashish Pandey, Lav Kush

The police on Thursday arrested Ashish Pandey and Lav Kush in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, News18 reported.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates

Rajasthan Congress leaders set to march towards Lakhimpur Kheri in UP

The Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a one-member Commission to probe the Lakhimpur Kheri incident in which eight people were killed, a senior Home Department official said on Thursday.

“A notification for the constitution of the Commission has been issued. The commission has been given two months time to probe the matter,” the official said.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Commissions of Enquiry Act, 1952 (Act no. 60 of 1952), the Governor is pleased to appoint Justice High Court, Allahabad (retd) Pradeep Kumar Srivastava as a single-member Commission of enquiry with Headquarters at Lakhimpur Kheri,” the notification dated October 6 said.

Varun Gandhi, mother Menaka excluded from top BJP body after former’s tweets on Lakhimpur incident

BJP on Thursday constituted a new national executive committee with 80 members, dropping two prominent leaders – party MP Varun Gandhi and former union minister Chaudhary Birender Singh, both of whom have been critical of the contentious farm laws, reports said. 

Varun had been tweeting videos of the incident demanding action against the son of Union Minister of State, Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni. 

The video is crystal clear. Protestors cannot be silenced through murder. There has to be accountability for the innocent blood of farmers that has been spilled and justice must be delivered before a message of arrogance and cruelty enters the minds of every farmer. 🙏🏻🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/Z6NLCfuujK

— Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) October 7, 2021

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates

SC asks UP to explain whether accused have been arrested

The Supreme Court Thursday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to explain who are the accused against whom FIR has been registered in connection with the October 3 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, in which eight people were killed, and whether they have been arrested.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana told the counsel appearing for Uttar Pradesh to explain this in the status report.

The counsel told the bench, also comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, that a judicial commission has been constituted to inquire into the incident and the state would file a status report in the matter. The apex court has posted the matter for hearing on Friday.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates

Navjot Singh Sidhu leads Punjab Congress march from Mohali to Lakhimpur

Mohali | Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu leads Punjab Congress to march to Lakhimpur in Uttar Pradesh today

If arrests are not made or he (MoS Teni's son) doesn't join the investigation by tomorrow, then I will sit on hunger strike, he says. pic.twitter.com/OqefJ82agL

— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2021

Scarred bodies and minds, charred vehicles: All that remains of the Lakhimpur violence

At ground zero in Tikunia, the used and thrown paper plates and glasses at the Maharaja Agrasen Inter College ground and the skeletal remains of the burnt-down Thar and Fortuner vehicles are the only reminders of the horrifying Sunday. The houses nearby are desolate. Taranjit Kaur sits alone on a charpoy near the charred Fortuner. Try asking her if she saw what happened, and Taranjit shakes her head. “There’s no one at home, I am all alone, and I was down with fever," she said. In the neighbouring houses too only the cattle and poultry can be spotted.

A few young boys sit near the local gurdwara, tired of recounting the Sunday mayhem. An Amavasya Mela that is arranged every year on new moon day at this time was called off on Wednesday as the neighborhood mourned the dead. Policemen deployed in the area, however, said things were peaceful and under control.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates

‘Will go on hunger strike if minister’s son not arrested,’ says Navjot Singh Sidhu

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Navjot Singh Sidhu on Thursday threatened to sit on a hunger strike if the UP administration failed to arrest the son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Ajay Mishra Teni’s son. Ashish Mishra is the key accused in the case, with farmers alleging that it was his car that mowed down five people including four farmers. 

But the minister has insisted that although the vehicle was owned by them, neither he nor his son were present at the site at the time of the incident. There are some videos circulating on the internet that contradict these claims, but Firstpost hasn’t been able to verify its veracity,

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates

Sitting SC or HC judge should probe Lakhimpur Kheri violence, not retired judge: Priyanka

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday demanded a probe by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court or a high court into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence and said Union minister Ajay Kumar Mishra, whose son is among those booked, should resign to ensure an impartial probe.

Priyanka Gandhi, who had on Wednesday met the families of three of the eight people killed in the violence, told reporters here, “In my view and that of the victims’ families as well, the case should be probed by a sitting Supreme Court or high court judge, and not the retired judge.

The Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a one-member commission of retired high court judge Pradeep Kumar Srivastava to probe the violence during a farmers’ protest rally that claimed eight lives on Sunday.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

Mother of 19-yr-old victim suffers cardiac arrest; SC asks UP govt to bear medical bill

“We received a message right now that the mother of the deceased is in critical condition, due to the shock of the loss of her son, and she is in need of urgent medical attention. Immediately communicate to your state government & take care. Provide all medical facilities,” Live Law

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

Accused not yet arrested as they are associated with BJP: Akhilesh on Lakhimpur incident

Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra’s son has not yet been arrested in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case even though evidence pointed to his role in the incident.

“As fingers are raised towards MoS (Ajay Mishra) in the BJP government, the accused in Lakhimpur case are not yet sent to jail,” Yadav, who is visiting Lakhimpur to meet the aggrieved families, told reporters here outside his residence.

“Those named in the FIR should go to jail. Government should take immediate action and the matter should be probed by a sitting judge of the High Court. There are videos clips, statements of eyewitnesses, the statement (of minister) in which he is threatening. As he (accused Ashish Mishra) is the son of the MoS, action has note been taken yet,” he said.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

SC to hear matter again tomorrow

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

SC asks UP govt to file status report

Supreme Court has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to file a status report before tomorrow’s hearing clarifying who all are accused and under what charges. The court also asked the government to clarify what was the situation regarding making arrests.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

UP cops issue Whatsapp number, email asking general public to forward evidence

“We’ve issued a WhatsApp number and appealed public to send any sort of evidence they may have on it,” IG, Lucknow Range told ANI. People are requested to whatsapp the evidence on 9454403800 or email it to spkhi-up@nic.in

थाना तिकुनिया,जनपद खीरी में घटित घटना के संबंध में पंजीकृत अभि० 219/21 व 220/21 की सफल विवेचना हेतु विवेचना पर्यवेक्षण समिति का गठन किया गया है। घटना के संबंध में यदि कोई भी लाभप्रद जानकारी/वीडियो क्लिप/फोटो आपके पास हो तो मो0नं0-9454403800 ई-मेल-spkhi-up@nic.in पर उपलब्ध करायें pic.twitter.com/B3HPifDi9x

— KHERI POLICE (@kheripolice) October 6, 2021

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

Need to protect rule of law in violence-ravaged UP, lawyers behind Lakhimpur PIL say in letter to SC

The letter, written by advocates Shiv Kumar Tripathi and CS Panda, said, “With regard to the seriousness of the killing of the farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, it is incumbent upon the Court to intervene in the matter as flashed in the press.” The lawyers had claimed that of late, violence has become the political culture of the country.

The lawyers said that there is a need to protect the rule of law in ‘violence-ravaged’ Uttar Pradesh, which is evident from media reports.

The letter said the Lakhimpur Kheri incident calls for direction against the UP government and the concerned bureaucrats along with the ’law-breaking police’ machinery under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home, so that the “cult of violence comes to a grinding halt”.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

Who are the two lawyers whose letter became basis of Lakhimpur case in SC

The letter referred to has been written by lawyers Shiv Kumar Tripathi and CS Panda seeking a time-bound CBI probe into the violent incident at Lakhimpur Kheri. 

The letter, written by advocates Shiv Kumar Tripathi and CS Panda, said, “With regard to the seriousness of the killing of the farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, it is incumbent upon the Court to intervene in the matter as flashed in the press.”

The lawyers had claimed that of late, violence has become the political culture of the country.

The lawyers said that there is a need to protect the rule of law in ‘violence-ravaged’ Uttar Pradesh, which is evident from media reports.

The letter said the Lakhimpur Kheri incident calls for direction against the UP government and the concerned bureaucrats along with the ’law-breaking police’ machinery under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home, so that the “cult of violence comes to a grinding halt”.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

Listed Lakhimpur matter suo motu by mistake, case to be heard as PIL, says CJI

Chief Justice of India NV Ramana clarified that the court intended the matter to be listed as a letter petition, not as a suo motu case. He said that the Supreme Court decided to take up the matter as a Public Interest Litigation after it recieved letters by two advocates, who had urged the apex court to intervene. The CJI further clarified that the case was incorrectly listed as “suo moto” matter due to miscommunication with court registry.

Breaking News: SC begins hearing Lakhimpur Kheri case

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

Supreme Court to begin suo moto hearing shortly

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

Watch: People have a right to justice, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra after meeting kin of victims

#WATCH "People have the right to justice...I will continue my fight for justice," says Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Lakhimpur Kheri deaths pic.twitter.com/auzjdYAyZL

— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2021

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

Akhilesh Yadav leaves for Lakhimpur Kheri

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav leaves for Lakhimpur to meet family members of the farmers and journalist killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

Congress writes bigger cheques, but excludes families of BJP workers, driver

Who should get compensation? This question has become another political flashpoint in the violent Lakhimpur Kheri episode. The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has said it is giving compensation to families of all eight people killed in the incident, while the opposition Congress has decided to give compensation to only five of the families.

The UP government has given cheques of Rs 45 lakh each to the families of all victims but the Congress has decided to give compensation to only five of the eight persons — the four farmers and the journalist.

“The three others (two BJP workers and driver of the Thar vehicle) are involved in the brutal massacre of farmers. How can they be compensated? They are the accused,” a Congress leader in Uttar Pradesh told News18.

The BJP, however, says the three were lynched to death, and pointed out that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi chose not to visit these three families during their Lakhimpur visit.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

Retd Allahabad HC judge to probe 3 Oct incident

UP govt appoints retd Allahabad HC judge Prakash Srivastava to probe #LakhimpurKheriViolence | Follow latest news updates here https://t.co/eCtdMXdz6M pic.twitter.com/FCMStFx435

— Firstpost (@firstpost) October 7, 2021

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

Fair probe impossible without sacking of MoS Ajay Mishra Teni, says Priyanka Gandhi

Pressing for the resignation of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra, Priyanka Gandhi said, They (victims’ families) will not get justice till the minister resigns as impartial inquiry is not possible as he is the minister of state for home.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

How an RLD leader ‘guerilla commando-ed’ his way into Lakhimpur Kheri

t took 14 hours of walking over 15 km along marshy rivers, fields and jungles, changing half a dozen vehicles, hitchhiking in a state transport bus followed by a school bus, for Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Chaudhary to reach Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district – currently the epicentre of farm laws related violence. Chaudhary is the first politician to have met the family of a slain farmer in a village in Lakhimpur on 4 October

Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav have been protesting against the UP police for not allowing them to go to Lakhimpur since Monday, before finally getting permission on Wednesday. Chaudhary beat them all.

Read the full article here.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

Navjot Singh Sidhu to lead Punjab Congress march to Lakhimpur today

Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu would lead a march of party leaders, including the council of ministers, from Mohali to Lakhimpur Kheri on Thursday via the Saharanpur border of UP to meet families of farmers killed in the violence on Sunday. Sidhu had tweeted on Tuesday that Punjab Congress would march towards Lakhimpur Kheri if Priyanka Gandhi was not released by the next day and if Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra’s son was not held in connection with the violence in Lakhimpur. Priyanka Gandhi was released from detention at a PAC guesthouse in Sitapur on Wednesday evening and left with her brother Rahul Gandhi for Lakhimpur Kheri.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

‘Protests can’t be silenced through murder,’ Varun Gandhi speaks out against own party 

The video is crystal clear. Protestors cannot be silenced through murder. There has to be accountability for the innocent blood of farmers that has been spilled and justice must be delivered before a message of arrogance and cruelty enters the minds of every farmer. 🙏🏻🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/Z6NLCfuujK

— Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) October 7, 2021

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

‘Arrest all accused within a week,’ Rakesh Tikait sets deadline for govt

BKU leader Rakesh Tikait demanded the resignation of Union minister Ajay Mishra and the arrest of all accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, warning that a nationwide agitation will be launched if authorities failed to implement within a week the agreement made with the farmers here.

Tikait, who is among the prominent leaders of the agitation against the Centre’s agri laws, had brokered the agreement between the authorities and the farmers on October 4 here, after which they had ended their protest and the families of the four deceased farmers had agreed to their post-mortem.

“Our protest has not ended. We will wait till eight days since the agreement and if the demands are not fulfilled a nationwide agitation would be launched,” Tikait told reporters at a Gurdwara in Lakhimpur city. 

The deadline coincides with the 10th-day Antim-Ardas ceremony (post-death ritual) in the Sikh community.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

CJI-led three judge bench to hear matter today

 A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana is scheduled to hear the matter today. According to the causelist uploaded on the apex court website, a three-judge bench comprising CJI Ramana and justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli would hear the matter titled In re violence in Lakhimpur Kheri (UP) leading to loss of life’ on Thursday.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

No one wants to take responsibility of unfortunate incidents: SC on Lakhimpur Kheri incident

The apex court, while hearing a separate plea by a farmers’ body protesting against the three new farm laws and seeking directions to authorities to allow it to stage satyagrah’ at Jantar Mantar here, had on Monday observed that nobody takes the responsibility when such incidents happen. The observations by the top court had come when Attorney General K K Venugopal referred to the unfortunate incident at Lakhimpur Kheri.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

SC takes cognisance of Lakhimpur Kheri incident

The Supreme Court has taken cognisance of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident in which eight people were killed in violence during a farmers’ protest. The incident has triggered a major political storm with opposition parties accusing the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh of shielding the culprits.

Two lawyers had on Tuesday written a letter to the CJI seeking a high-level judicial inquiry, involving the CBI, under the supervision of the apex court into the incident. The letter by the two advocates had urged the CJI to treat it as public interest litigation (PIL) so that guilty could be brought to justice.

It had also sought direction to the Home Ministry and the police to register an FIR in the case and punish those involved in the incident.

Lakhimpur Kheri live updates:

Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi meet families of farmers killed in Lakhimpur

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday met the family members of farmers killed in the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri and promised them all assistance. They arrived in Lakhimpur after the Uttar Pradesh government allowed them to visit the violence-hit district.