Lakhimpur Kheri Violence Accused Ankit Das Sent To Judicial Custody Till Oct 22

The Police had summoned Das for questioning in connection with the October 3 violence which had left eight people, including four farmers, dead.

Monitoring committee has arrested Ankit Das (in white t shirt) in connection with Lakhimpur Kheri violence. (Image: ANI)

Lucknow: Hours after surrendering before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) at the crime branch office in Lakhimpur today, Ankit Das was arrested by the monitoring committee in connection with Lakhimpur Kheri violence. 

As per latest updates, Ankit Das was presented before the Magistrate where he has been sent to judicial custody till October 22.

Speaking to news agency ANI, prosecution lawyer SP Yadav said that Ankit Das has been sent to 3-day police custody from October 14-17 and judicial custody till October 22.

The Police had summoned Das for questioning in connection with the October 3 violence which had left eight people, including four farmers, dead.

Ankit Das is the nephew of a former Congress MP, late Akhilesh Das and is said to be a close friend of prime accused Ashish Mishra. Ankit Das is said to be present in the car which was behind the SUV that knocked down four farmers.

Police have so far arrested four people in connection with the case and Ankit is the fifth accused taken into custody in the case.

At around 11 am, Das along with a team of lawyers arrived at the reserved police lines in Lakhimpur and reached the crime branch office located there, police said.

The Fortuner in the convoy belonged to Ankit Das. He had earlier stated that he was not present there at the time of the incident.

Meanwhile, Congress has once again reiterated its demand to sack Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni for a free and fair probe into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. 

A Congress delegation, led by its former president Rahul Gandhi, and comprising leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Ghulam Nabi Azad, A.K. Antony and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, met President Ram Nath Kovind this moring to it put forth the demand.

According to reports, the delegation discussed in detail with the President the farmers' deaths in the violence, investigation into the incident, and pressed for the removal of Teni.