New Delhi: In fresh trouble for the ruling BJP government, Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra, one of the 13 accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, now faces the charge of hatching a conspiracy with an intention to kill the protesters on October 3. Four farmers and a journalist were among eight persons killed.
Stringent sections slapped
- On SIT’s plea, the CJM court allows dropping of Sections 279 (rash driving), 338 (negligence) and 304A (causing death by negligence)
- Replaced with Sections 326 (voluntary hurt with deadly weapons), 307 (murder bid) and others
- Section 302 (murder) and other main charges, including those of rioting, retained
Case now crystal clear
The case is now crystal clear. It wasn’t an accident, but a deliberate attempt with an intention to kill. — SP Yadav, Senior Public Prosecutor
Congress seeks PM’s apology
Modi ji, it’s time to apologise again, but first remove the accused’s father from the minister’s post. — Rahul Gandhi, Congress
The Opposition Congress and the BKU have demanded the minister’s ouster.
Lakhimpur Kheri Chief Judicial Magistrate Chinta Ram on Tuesday allowed the special investigation team’s application to drop IPC sections on accidental deaths, rash and negligent driving. The court ordered the addition of pre-planned conspiracy and attempt to murder charges through Sections 326, 307 and 34 along with Sections 3, 25 and 30 of the Arms Act.
“The case has now become crystal clear. It wasn’t an accident, but a deliberate attempt with an intention to kill,” Senior Public Prosecutor SP Yadav told The Tribune, pointing to SIT evidence on the use of “deadly weapons and deadly means (four protesting farmers and a journalist were run over by SUVs)”.
While Section 326 has been invoked on the basis of “evidence” that the 13 accused, including Ashish Mishra, “voluntarily caused grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means”, Section 307 covers the accused who act with an intention to kill.
SIT chief investigator Vidyaram Diwakar, probing the violence at Tikunia village in Kheri, had on Monday moved an application before the CJM stating that the evidence gathered so far pointed to the October 3 act being a “pre-planned conspiracy”. The MoS and his son have so far maintained innocence in the matter.
Ashish is accused of being seated on the left front seat of a Mahindra Thar, the first of the three SUVs that allegedly mowed down protesters.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded Mishra’s resignation and an apology from PM Modi. BKU’s Tikait, who will lead his supporters in a massive show of strength on Wednesday to vacate the Ghazipur farmers’ protest site, also sought Mishra’s ouster.
Rahul earlier said, “A minister tried to kill the farmers. The PM knows this. We tried to raise the issue, but our voices were muzzled.”