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NEW DELHI: Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni’s son Ashish was questioned today for nearly nine hours by the UP Police SIT probing the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
At least eight people died in the violence that erupted on October 3 during a farmers’ protest in Lakhimpur Kheri of Uttar Pradesh.
Some farmers have alleged that Ashish was behind the wheels of a vehicle that ran over farmers, causing deaths and injuries.
Ashish Mishra appeared before the special investigation team (SIT) at around 10.30am on Saturday morning, after having skipped a summon to appear on Friday. His questioning was still continuing after 8pm.
The development comes a day after the Supreme Court rapped the Yogi government in UP for not being proactive in arresting the accused in the case.
Lakhimpur Kheri violence live updates
Ashish has maintained that he was not present in the vehicle that mowed down farmers, or at the site of the violence. However his father, minister Ajay Mishra Teni has admitted that a vehicle in the convoy was registered in his name, while another was linked to a family friend.
While his son was being questioned, Ajay Mishra was huddled with lawyers at the local party office where a large number of BJP workers gathered and shouted slogans in support of him.
The minister came out of the office and told the party workers that Ashish was innocent and had no role in the October 3 incident.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is spearheading the agitation against the Centre’s three farm laws, alleged that the violence was held under a pre-planned conspiracy. It has demanded the arrest of minister Teni and his son Ashish.
At least eight people died in the violence that erupted on October 3 during a farmers’ protest in Lakhimpur Kheri of Uttar Pradesh.
Some farmers have alleged that Ashish was behind the wheels of a vehicle that ran over farmers, causing deaths and injuries.
Ashish Mishra appeared before the special investigation team (SIT) at around 10.30am on Saturday morning, after having skipped a summon to appear on Friday. His questioning was still continuing after 8pm.
The development comes a day after the Supreme Court rapped the Yogi government in UP for not being proactive in arresting the accused in the case.
Lakhimpur Kheri violence live updates
Ashish has maintained that he was not present in the vehicle that mowed down farmers, or at the site of the violence. However his father, minister Ajay Mishra Teni has admitted that a vehicle in the convoy was registered in his name, while another was linked to a family friend.
While his son was being questioned, Ajay Mishra was huddled with lawyers at the local party office where a large number of BJP workers gathered and shouted slogans in support of him.
The minister came out of the office and told the party workers that Ashish was innocent and had no role in the October 3 incident.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is spearheading the agitation against the Centre’s three farm laws, alleged that the violence was held under a pre-planned conspiracy. It has demanded the arrest of minister Teni and his son Ashish.
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 alleged. “His son Ashish Mishra and his associates, who have been accused of murder, should be arrested immediately,” he said.
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.
The SKM also gave a call for a “rail roko” protest across the country from 10am to 4pm on October 18 and a “mahapanchayat” in Lucknow on October 26.
(With inputs from PTI)
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