Lakhimpur Violence: Ankit Das, Close Aide Of Prime Accused Ashish Mishra, Sent To Judicial Custody Until 22 October

After hours of questioning by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), Ankit Das, a close friend of the prime accused Ashish Mishra in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested by the police on Wednesday (13 October). The arrest came after his surrender at the crime branch office in Lakhimpur.

Along with Das, his manager-cum-bodyguard Wakil alias Latif, was also arrested.

Das's advocate Razi Ahmed informed that the police had sought a 14-day police remand of Das, on which the court is yet to make a decision. However, Das has been sent to judicial custody till 22 October, including three-day police custody from 14-17 October. Also, the CJM has asked for a police report, which is likely to come within three days.

Das’s Arrest And His Alleged Role In The Lakhimpur Violence

The police have been conducting raids to arrest Das in connection with the 3 October violence that broke out in Tikunia, Lakhimpur Kheri, in which eight people, including four farmers, died. On Tuesday (12 October), both Das and his bodyguard Kale, had moved an application for surrender at the CJM court in Kheri.

As per reports, the SIT arrested Das and Kale after they confessed being present in the SUV (Fortuner) which is behind the Thar jeep that hit and crushed the farmers on 3 October. The Fortuner in the convoy belonged to Das. He had earlier stated that he was not present there at the time of the incident.

During the five-hour long interrogation Das and Ashish were questioned simultaneously, where he (Ankit) said that Ashish was not present in the Fortuner. While he confessed that he was present in the fleet, he also claimed that he had not committed any crime. He also accepted that he had fled to Nepal after the incident.

Das’s driver Shekhar Bharti, who was then driving the Fortuner car, was taken into custody on 12 October, and had already been questioned.

A case has already been registered against Das under other sections including conspiracy, murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, rebellion.

Who Is Ankit Das?

Ankit Das is the nephew of former Congress MP, late Akhilesh Das and is said to be a close friend of Ashish Mishra alias Monu, who is the prime accused in the Lakhimpur violence case.

Brajesh Pathak Visits The Deceased BJP Workers' Families

Uttar Pradesh Law Minister Brajesh Pathak, on Wednesday, visited the house of driver Hari Om Mishra, a BJP worker who was allegedly killed by the protesting farmers during the Lakhimpur violence. The minister consoled Hari Om’s mother and assured her of all possible help.

After this, the minister also met BJP worker Shubham Mishra’s family, and offered his condolences. He assured the parents of the deceased that he and the party are with them in their hard times. Mishra was brutally killed by miscreants during the violence that broke out in Tikunia, Lakhimpur Kheri.

Brajesh Pathak, is the first BJP leader to visit the families of the deceased workers, who had earlier complained that no one from the party has bothered to visit them to offer their condolences. Pathak, also the Brahmin face of the BJP in the region, said that his prime aim is to ensure that the victims get justice.