Lakhimpur Kheri Violence: UP Police Arrest 2 People In Case, Minister Ajay Mishra's Son Untraceable

FIR claims that Ashish Mishra had opened fire at the protesting farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri and was also present in the car that ran over the farmers.

Lucknow: Four days after eight people were killed in the horrific Lakhimpur Kheri incident, Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday arrested two people in connection with the case.

Two persons have been taken into custody and are being questioned in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. Police have recovered empty bullet shells at violence site, news agency ANI reported citing UP government sources. 

The two accused have been identified as Luvkush and Ashish Pandey, UP Police said.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Lucknow range, Lakshmi Singh said that the police are on looking for Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni's son, Ashish Mishra and are trying to arrest him soon.

Singh further said that a search is on to arrest Ashish Mishra, who has been booked for murder charges in the Lakhimpur Kheri FIR.

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 on October 3.

Later, two workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a driver were beaten to death allegedly by the angry protesters, while a local journalist was also killed in the violence.

Farmers have claimed that Ashish was in one of the cars that allegedly knocked down the protesters but the minister has denied the allegations.

The arrests came hours after the Supreme Court sought a status report by Friday from the Uttar Pradesh government on the accused named by the police in FIR and whether they have been arrested.

"You yourself have pointed out, it has also been reported and it is in the letter petition, which we have received, that eight persons, some of them are farmers and one is journalist and there are other persons also who have been killed. These all are unfortunate incidents in which different persons have been murdered," the SC bench said.

Terming the incident 'unfortunate', lawyer Garima Prasad, appearing for the state government said that an SIT and the judicial commission of inquiry have been set up by the government and she may provide the details in the status report.