Accused of mowing down agitating farmers in Tikunia area of Lakhimpur Kheri district last month, trouble for Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni’s son Ashish Mishra and his cronies mounted after a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report confirmed that shots were fired from the licensed guns of Ashish and his friend Ankit Das.
Incidentally, Ankit is the nephew of late MP Akhilesh Das.
On October 3, four farmers were allegedly mowed down by the vehicles in the convoy of Ashish Mishra and his friends. The farmers alleged that Ashish was driving a SUV that ran over the victims and while fleeing the scene of crime Ashish and Ankit fired several shots to deter the farmers from chasing them.
The farmers were protesting Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's visit to a function at Tikunia area of Lakhimpur that was organised by the Union minister.
In the retaliatory violence, four other persons linked to Mishra and Das were lynched by an angry mob
Subsequently, Ashish Mishra, Ankit Das and 12 others were named as accused for intentionally mowing down the farmers and firing at them, a charge that the two accused vehemently denied. However, the two were arrested and are currently lodged in the District Jail in Lakhimpur Kheri.
During investigation, the Lakhimpur police seized firearms including a rifle, a revolver, a repeater gun and a pistol licensed to Ashish Mishra and Ankit Das. All these firearms were sent for forensic testing on October 15, the report of which came in on Tuesday. The Forensic Science Laboratory report confirmed that the shots were fired from the licensed guns of Ashish Mishra and Ankit Das.
Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court expressed unhappiness over the pace of probe into the Lakhimpur violence by a Special Investigation Team formed by the Uttar Pradesh government.
A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana recommended that a retired judge of the High Court monitor the probe and filing of separate chargesheets in the mowing down of protesting farmers by a vehicle and the lynching of four persons in the aftermath.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that it was clear from the observation of the Supreme Court that there should be an independent inquiry in order to get justice in the Lakhimpur Kheri case and alleged that the UP government was rallying behind those who trampled the farmers with their vehicles.
"In the Lakhimpur massacre, it is clear that the Uttar Pradesh government is standing with those who trampled upon the farmers. The father of the person who is the prime accused in trampling upon the farmers (Minister of State for Home) has the protection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Priyanka tweeted in Hindi on Monday.