Lakhimpur Kheri: Manhunt underway for Sumit Jaiswal and Ankit Das

After the arrest of Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni in the Lakhimpur Kheri case, searches have been intensified to nab two of his friends Sumit Jaiswal and Ankit Das. Meanwhile, Priyanka Gandhi along with Congress workers is observing a silent fast demanding the dismissal of Union MoS Ajay Mishra Teni.

Lakhimpur Kheri (UP): UP Police have intensified their efforts to nab Sumit Jaiswal and Ankit Das, who are the friends of Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni in the car run over case, in which eight persons including four farmers were killed. The Union Minister's son who has been accused of running over farmers was apprehended on Oct 9 following several hours of interrogation. Meanwhile, MoS for Home is keeping his distance from the media.

Ashish was produced in court on Saturday and then sent to 14-day judicial custody. However, two of his friends who are absconding are yet to be held and a special task force (STF) of the Crime Branch has initiated a manhunt to nab them. So far, three people including Ashish Mishra have been arrested in the Lakhimpur incident, and according to the DIG Special Investigation Committee Upendra Agarwal, the union minister's son has been evasive in his replies and has not been cooperative in the investigation and hence taken into custody.

Senior prosecution officer SP Yadav told media that an application for police remand of Ashish Mishra was submitted to the judicial magistrate who fixed it for hearing for 11 am on Monday.

The minister's son was named in an FIR following allegations that he was in one of the vehicles that mowed down four farmers protesting over UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's visit last Sunday. Farmer leaders and opposition parties have been demanding Mishra's arrest but the minister and his son had denied the allegations.

Read:Lakhimpur violence: Ashish Mishra sent to 14-day judicial custody

Priyanka Gandhi observes a silent fast demanding dismissal of Union MoS Ajay Mishra Teni

The Congress party is observing a silent fast across the country on Monday demanding the dismissal of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni. In Uttar Pradesh, under the leadership of the party's national general secretary and UP in-charge Priyanka Gandhi, Congress workers are observing a silent fast.

Earlier the party wanted to hold the silent protest at the Raj Bhavan, but due to the swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Justice there, the protest is being held at the Gandhi statue located at GPO.

In the wake of Congress having called for a silent fast, a massive security force has been deployed at the Gandhi Statue.

Read:Indian Youth Congress holds protest against Lakhimpur Kheri incident

The violence in Lakhimpur Kheri has triggered a political storm and put the BJP government on the back foot in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, the BJP unit of the district has distanced itself to a great extent from Ajay Mishra.

Speaking about the developments, a senior BJP worker citing anonymity stated that the incident has caused some damage to the party and that it is unfortunate.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is spearheading the agitation against the Centre's three farm laws, had alleged that the violence was held under a pre-planned conspiracy and demanded the arrest of the minister and his son. The farmer unions said if the government does not accept their demands by October 11, they will take out a 'Shaheed Kisan Yatra' from Lakhimpur Kheri with the ashes of slain farmers.

A call for a rail roko protest across the country from 10 AM to 4 PM on October 18 and a mahapanchayat in Lucknow on October 26 was also given by the SKM, adding that Ajay Mishra should be dismissed from the cabinet and arrested on charges of spreading disharmony, murder and conspiracy. He is also protecting the culprits in the case, SKM leader Yogendra Yadav had alleged during a press conference in Delhi.