Lakhimpur farmers want case to be shifted out of UP
Darpan News Desk IANS, 31 Mar, 2022 11:20 AM
Lakhimpur Kheri, March 31 (IANS) The families of four farmers who were mowed down allegedly by Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni's son's convoy during the October 3 violence last year, are now demanding that the case be moved out of Uttar Pradesh.
Talking to reporters on Thursday, Gursevwak Singh, the elder brother of Gurwinder Singh, who was one of the four farmers who died, said: "The case should be transferred to Delhi. We all know that the proceedings are being influenced here. No action was taken against the union minister despite his video threatening farmers having gone viral.
"The Uttar Pradesh government's attitude is different when it comes to criminals who are from their own party. There is no scope of justice in Uttar Pradesh. That is evident from the way an eyewitness was thrashed and his case was closed by the local police."
Satnam Singh, the father of 19-year-old Lovepreet Singh, who was also killed in the violence, said: "Despite having all the evidence, we sometimes think that we are fighting a lost battle. We all know that the state is trying to save the accused. The Minister is openly giving statements saying he proved his 'innocence' by ensuring the BJP's win in Lakhimpur Kheri."
Jagdeep Singh, son of Nachattar Singh who was seen tossed in the air by the speeding SUV, said: "There is no way we can get justice in Uttar Pradesh. The main accused was given bail easily despite the SIT submitting evidence in court calling the incident 'premeditated' and 'not an act of negligence'. It was one of the most heinous crimes in the country.
"We are now going to approach the apex court to get the case transferred to Delhi or elsewhere to ensure justice for farmers."
Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing the family members, submitted before a bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana that on March 10, a protected witness in the case had been attacked and the state government did not file an appeal challenging the bail granted to Misra in the case.
The SAD also announced the expulsion of Kalka from the primary membership of the party, besides dissolving the party's Delhi unit. It also announced the formation of a five-member ad hoc committee headed by veteran leader Avtar Singh Hit, and comprising Harinder Singh Kaypee, Bhupinder Singh Anand, Gurdev Singh Bhola, and Ravinder Singh Khurana.
In December last year, the Supreme Court had said it expects a fair investigation and investigating agencies should be neutral, as it asked Delhi Police to conclude the probe, by December 15, in a case against Singh.
Amid a call for leadership change in the party, Congress General Secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has called a meeting of party leaders on Tuesday to find out the reasons for the defeat. The Congress could only get just over 2 per cent votes and two seats in the Uttar Pradesh polls.
The plea argued that the high court granted bail without considering the heinous nature of the crime and also in the backdrop of overwhelming evidence against the accused in the charge sheet. The plea further argued that there is likelihood of the accused tampering with the witnesses and causing obstruction in justice.
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