Lakhimpur Kheri violence: SC takes suo moto cognizance, to hear case on Thursday
Darpan News Desk IANS, 06 Oct, 2021 11:12 AM
New Delhi, Oct 6 (IANS) The Supreme Court has taken suo moto cognizance of the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri, where farmers were allegedly mowed down by a car on October 3, triggering a violent backlash.
9 persons, including four farmers, were killed in the violence that had erupted during a farmers' protest in Lakhimpur Kheri.
A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli will hear the matter on Thursday. The matter has been listed as 'violence in Lakhimpur Kheri (UP) leading to loss of life'.
Earlier, two apex court lawyers had written to the Chief Justice seeking a CBI probe into the matter under the supervision of the top court.
The letter, written by advocates Shiv Kumar Tripathi and C.S. Panda, said: "With regard to the seriousness of the killing of the farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, it is incumbent upon this Hon'ble Court to intervene in the matter as flashed in the press."
The lawyers had claimed that of late, violence has become the political culture of the country.
The lawyers said that there is a need to protect the rule of law in 'violence-ravaged' Uttar Pradesh, which is evident from media reports.
The letter said the Lakhimpur Kheri incident calls for direction against the UP government and the concerned bureaucrats along with the 'law-breaking police' machinery under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home, so that the "cult of violence comes to a grinding halt".
According to Indian officials, at least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese forces in a disputed Himalayan border area. The incident follows rising tensions, and is the first deadly clash in the border area in at least over 4 decades. The Indian army initially said three of its soldiers had been killed, adding that both sides suffered casualties.
India and Australia penned a landmark agreement for reciprocal access to military bases for logistics support besides firming up six more pacts to further broaden ties after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart PM Scott Morrison held an online summit.
Siddharta Vashishtha, also known as Manu Sharma, the convict in the Jessica Lal murder case was released from Tihar Jail on Tuesday. Sandeep Goel, Director-General of Tihar Jail, said: “He was released on the recommendations of the Sentence Reviewing Board meeting. The entire process has been carried out.”
A swarm of locusts on Wednesday and Thursday devastated crops in Uttar Pradesh’s Sonbhadhra district, which shares borders with Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. The pest has damaged crops in six states, leading to the Centre issuing a locust warning to 16 states.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Rs 1,500 crore for the relief and rehabilitation of people affected by Cyclone Amphan in West Bengal and Odisha, and assured the states of more support after conducting separate aerial surveys with chief ministers Mamata Banerjee and Naveen Patnaik on Friday.
