BAREILLY: The special investigation team (SIT) probing the Lakhimpur Kheri violence released six photographs of suspects who had allegedly “lynched” three BJP workers after the convoy of junior home minister Ajay Mishra’s son’s allegedly mowed down farmers at a protest site there on October 3. It has also announced cash rewards — without mentioning the amount — for information about the suspects.
The pictures show a few men with sticks and black flags near burning vehicles. Sources said police are trying to ascertain whether the attack on the BJP convoy was “intentional or an act of retaliation”.
Meanwhile, many called the posters a violation of rights and something that may put these men at risk. Human rights activist Trilochan Singh Gandhi said, “Sharing pictures of the farmers publicly without even knowing their names or without having any evidence to link them to the violence may put them in harm’s way. A few of the suspects might actually be the ones who were carrying out the rescue work after the violence.”
SN Sabat, ADG (Lucknow zone) said, “It is a legal process. It is not a violation of human rights, and releasing the pictures won’t put them at risk.”
A member of SIT said, “We have identified a few suspects. We can’t call them anti-social elements as they are only suspects at the moment. We questioned nine farmers on Tuesday and they were sent back home.”