As the investigation into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case nears its end, the troubles for all 14 accused, including Ashish Mishra Teni, who is the prime accused in the case, are bound to increase manifold. The investigating officer, before filing the charge sheet, has appealed to the chief judicial magistrate court to add more stringent sections related to murder, causing grievous hurt, and recovery of illegal arms.

“In the course of the investigation of the death of four famers in the Lakhimpur violence, the evidence which has come to the fore makes it abundantly clear that whatever happened on the day of the incident was not a result of the circumstances, but was a planned conspiracy,” said Vidyaram Diwakar, who is the investigating officer in the case.

As per the application given in the court of the chief judicial magistrate, the investigating officer has submitted that the violence in Tikunia of Lakhimpur Kheri was not an accident or culpable homicide by any chance, but a well-planned armed attempt to murder using weapons. All the accused have been summoned to the court for hearing today (14 December).

The investigating officer has sought the removal of sections 304A for culpable homicide, section 279 for negligent driving, and section 338 for causing grievous hurt, from the charge sheet. He has further sought permission from the court to impose more stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), such as section 307 for attempt to murder, section 326 for causing hurt by dangerous weapon, section 34 for incident caused by several people for the same purpose, and 3/25 Arms Act for misuse of licensed weapon, on the prime accused Ashish Mishra, his close aide Ankit Das, and others.

On 3 October, eight people were killed in the violence that broke out in Tikunia village of Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh. It is alleged that Ashish Mishra Teni alias ‘Monu’, son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni, intentionally crushed the protesting farmers with his car. After this incident, the mob went berserk and killed three people including Ashish Mishra’s driver. The case is being probed by a special investigation team under the supervision of the court, in which 14 people have been arrested as accused for the unfortunate incident.

Vidyaram Diwakar

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