New Delhi: The Supreme Court heard the Lakhimpur violence case and asked the UP Police to take necessary steps due to the sensitivity of the issue. The top court termed the incident as "brutal murder of eight persons" and said that the law must take its course against all accused.
The Court further says that it hopes that the UP government will take necessary steps due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Supreme Court said that it heard the steps taken by the UP Police and the government and is not satisfied with the probe, hence the matter will be again heard on October 20, reported LIVE Law.
The top court also noted that senior advocate Harish Salve appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government has assured it that the highest police officer in the State will be informed to preserve the evidence in the case.
Salve further said to the court that if the person does not come, rigour of law will take recourse. In response to Salve's statements, Supreme Court asks the Uttar Pradesh government when there is a serious allegation of death or gunshot injury will the accused in this country be treated the same way?
Salve argued that post mortem report did not show any bullet wounds, that is why the notice was sent to him.
Reports suggest Ashish Mishra is absconding
Union Minister of State for Home Kumar Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra, who was asked to appear before the police at 10 am on Friday in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, did not reach the police lines till 11.30 am, said PTI report.
Deputy Inspector General (Headquarters) Upendra Agarwal who is heading the probe team said. "Ashish Mishra has not turned up till now".
In a statement issued here, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha said, "...there is no trace of him (Ashish Mishra). News reports indicate that he is changing locations and is absconding, with several UP Police teams searching for him."
The morcha expressed its "serious concern and shock" as Mishra was not arrested.
As investigators waited for Mishra, reports emerged that he might have fled to Nepal.
Legal Procedures will be adopted against Ashish Mishra: UP Police
Earlier, the Supreme Court on Thursday had sought a status report from the UP government by Friday about the people named by the police in the FIR in the killing of eight people in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence and whether they have been arrested even as the police said Ashish Mishra, an accused and son of Union minister Ajay Mishra, was summoned for questioning.
As the top court described as unfortunate the incidents on October 3 in which different persons including four farmers were "murdered", the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, which is facing heat over the violence ahead of the Assembly elections, announced it has constituted a one-member judicial commission.
Retired Allahabad High Court judge Pradeep Kumar Srivastava has been asked to complete the probe into the violence that erupted on Tikonia-Banbirpur road in Lakhimpur Kheri district within two months from the date of the notification which was issued on Wednesday. The announcement of the commission came hours before the apex court was to take up the Lakhimpur Kheri matter.
Inspector General of Police Laxmi Singh said two people are being quizzed in connection with the violence and that Ashish Mishra has been summoned for questioning. The official refused to give out the names of those being questioned. Asked by reporters in Lakhimpur Kheri if they have been arrested or taken into custody, she merely replied, "For questioning."
"If Ashish Mishra does not abide by the summons, legal procedure will be adopted," she said, adding there was no time limit in the summons sent to him.
An FIR under section 302 IPC (murder) has been registered against Ashish Mishra and others in Tikonia police station.
Four farmers were mowed down by an SUV in Lakhimpur Kheri when a group agitating against the Centre's three new farm laws was holding a demonstration against the visit of UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. Two BJP workers and a driver were beaten to death allegedly by the angry protesters, while a local journalist was also killed in the violence.
Farmer leaders have claimed that Ashish was in one of the cars that allegedly knocked down the protesters but his father Ajay Mishra has denied the allegations.
At the Supreme Court, a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana also sought from the UP government details of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the judicial commission.
The Lakhimpur Kheri violence, which has triggered a major political storm with the opposition parties accusing the UP government of shielding the culprits, was heard as a suo motu (on its own) case.