Lakhimpur Kheri Violence: Supreme Court steps in, CJI to hear case

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Wednesday thanked the Chief Justice of India (CJI), NV Ramana, for deciding to take up the Lakhimpur Kheri matter suo motu.

Shivani
Published on: 7 Oct 2021 6:18 AM GMT
Lakhimpur Kheri Violence: Supreme Court steps in, CJI to hear case
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The political row triggered by the Lakhimpur Kheri violence is heating up Uttar Pradesh; a Congress delegation including heavyweight leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi met the family of deceased farmers on Wednesday and demanded "justice, not compensation". The BJP, wary months before the upcoming assembly elections in the state, has blamed Congress for seeking 'mileage' over the issue. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has also stepped in, registering a suo motu case; the proceedings are expected to begin on Thursday.

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Wednesday thanked the Chief Justice of India (CJI), NV Ramana, for deciding to take up the Lakhimpur Kheri matter suo motu.

Earlier on October 4, reacting to the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, Sibal had said, "This is the symbol of the arrogance of political party that is power. The ruling party is giving a message that they can do whatever they want and even run a car over those who are protesting."

Congress delegation meets families after visit furore


The Supreme Court on Wednesday registered a public interest litigation on its own on the violence that killed eight people in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri district three days ago amid simmering tensions in the region and a visit by opposition leaders to the victims' kin.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and also comprising justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli will hear the case on Thursday. The suo motu (on its own motion) case has been registered as "In Re Violence in Lakhimpur Kheri (UP) leading to loss of life".

The matter has been registered as a criminal writ petition, pertaining to investigation and prosecution. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta is also expected to join the proceedings on Thursday.

According to people familiar with the development, the suo motu cognisance has been taken on the basis of some letters written to the CJI and media reports.

The developments came on a day Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, his Punjab counterpart Charanjit Singh Channi, AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, party MP Deepender Hooda and Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president Ajay Kumar Lallu, finally reached the remote village – roughly 10km from the India-Nepal border – after trying for three days.

Local farmers blame junior home minister Ajay Mishra 'Teni' and his son Ashish Mishra for the violence that left four cultivators dead. Farm groups say a Mahindra Thar owned by Mishra mowed down protesters from behind while they were returning from a demonstration in Tikunia village on Sunday afternoon.

The minister and his son deny the charge and say farmers pelted the car with stones that led the driver losing control of the vehicle. They also accuse the protesters of lynching two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and the car's driver. A local journalist was also killed in the melee.

Ashish Mishra and 20 others have been booked for murder but farmers continue to press for his arrest.

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Shivani

Shivani

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