Lakhimpur Case: Ashish Mishra Given Notice To Appear On Saturday, SC Says ‘Go And Arrest Accused’

Lakhimpur Case: While investigators waited for Ashish Mishra to show up today, reports speculated that he might have fled to Nepal.

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New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra, did not reach the police lines till 11.30 am, news agency PTI reported sources as saying.

This comes after Ashish was asked to appear before the police at 10 am on Friday in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

During the suo motu hearing in Supreme Court on Lakhimpur Kheri violence, Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, told the bench that a young man (Ashish Mishra) who is being targeted has been given notice and he will appear on Friday at 11 am, news agency ANI reported.

Chief Justice of India NV Ramana noted that charges are very serious.

Harish Salve stated that if the person does not come, “rigour of law will take recourse”. To this, the Supreme Court asked if the UP government treats other accused in the same manner.

“We’re not on merits. The allegation is of 302. Treat him the same way we treat other persons in other cases. Not that we have sent notice, please come,” CJI Ramana said, as reported by Live Law.

“This is the opinion of the bench. We expect responsible government and police working. When there’s a serious allegation of 302, how will the accused,” he added.

He further commented: “What is the message that we are sending? In normal circumstances, if a 302 case is registered, what will the police do? Go and arrest the accused!”

Responding to the remarks, Harish Salve stated “whatever have been the shortfalls will be filled up between today and tomorrow”.

Accused Ashish Mishra ‘Hasn’t Turned Up’

Deputy Inspector General (Headquarters) Upendra Agarwal who is heading the investigation team is present in the police lines for questioning him, PTI’s sources said.

“Ashish Mishra has not turned up till now,” an official source said around 11.30 am as per PTI.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha’s statement in this regard read: “...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 “serious concern and shock” as Ashish was not arrested.

While investigators waited for him to show up, reports speculated that he might have fled to Nepal.

When asked about it, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said, “If this is true, the Centre should intervene and get the accused arrested from Nepal”.

SKM's Allegations

Uttar Pradesh police arrested two men on Thursday and then pasted a notice outside Ashish Mishra’s house asking him to appear before it in connection with the violence that caused eight deaths.

Four of the eight people who died in the Sunday violence were farmers, mowed down by a vehicle said to be carrying BJP workers. Angry farmers then allegedly lynched some people in the vehicles.

The other dead included a journalist, two BJP workers, and their driver.

Farmers continue to insist that Ashish Mishra was in one of the vehicles, an allegation denied by him and his father who claim they can prove that he was at an event at that time.

A nine-member team headed by DIG Upendra Agarwal was constituted to investigate the FIR lodged against the minister’s son and others.

The arrested men were identified as Luvkush of Banbirpur village and Ashish Pandey of Nighasan tehsil, two of the seven people mentioned in an FIR lodged by police, PTI reported.

In its statement, the SKM alleged that Sumit Jaiswal, Ankit Das, and some other persons were also involved in the violence, but they are not being arrested by the police.

“There is only information on a notice issued to Ashish Mishra summoning him for questioning. The UP government and Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra are adopting protective tactics to ensure that Ashish Mishra roams free,” it claimed.

The Morcha further claimed that Sumit Jaiswal was in the Thar vehicle that knocked down the protesting farmers and was clearly seen escaping from the vehicle.

Similarly, a video clip where a police officer was seen questioning a person caught during the incident showed that Ankit Das was in the Fortuner vehicle that was also involved in the violence, the farmers’ body stated.

The morcha has demanded the immediate arrest of Ashish, Sumit, and Ankit.

(With Inputs From Agencies)