Lakhimpur Kheri: Ashish Mishra remanded to three days police custody

Ashish Mishra, an accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri case, was remanded into three days of police custody on Monday. The Union Minister's son was apprehended on Oct 9 after 12 hours of interrogation by the Crime Branch of Uttar Pradesh police.

Lakhimpur Kheri (UP): Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni, an accused in the Lakhimpur incident wherein farmers were run over by an SUV at Tikunia was remanded in three days police custody on Monday. The hearing began at around 11 am. The Union Minister's son was apprehended on Oct 9 after 12 hours of interrogation by the Crime Branch of Uttar Pradesh police.

Security has been beefed up outside Sessions Court in Lakhimpur Kheri wherein the Union Minister's son will be produced by police today.

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. Hence, an application for police remand of Mishra was submitted to the judicial magistrate.

However, Ashish Mishra's lawyer Avadhesh Singh has clarified saying that his client is innocent and that over 100 photographs and videos of the October 3 incident have been handed over to the police.

What exactly happened at Tikunia in Lakhimpur Kheri?

On 3rd October, eight people were killed as violence erupted during a farmers' protest over Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's visit. Two SUVs were set on fire by angry farmers after they were hit by a group of protesters. Overall, eight persons including four farmers were killed in the ensuing violence. According to protesting farmers, the Union minister's son had allegedly run his car over anti-farm law protestors.

Cases registered under these sections

Several cases have been registered against the Union minister's son which includes 302, 304A, 147, 148, 149, 279 and 120B.

Manhunt to nab two of Ashish Mishra's associates underway

UP Police have intensified their efforts to nab Sumit Jaiswal and Ankit Das, who are the friends of the main accused.

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.