The Special Investigation Team investigating the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri has concluded that there was a planned conspiracy to murder protesting farmers. Union Minister Ajay Mishra's
son, Ashish is the prime accused in the case and has been jailed.
In addition, the SIT investigating the October 3 violence has submitted a plea with the Chief Judicial Magistrate to include new sections against the 13 accused, making their crimes punishable
as attempted murder. The SIT investigating officer, Vidhyaram Diwakar, filed a plea in the CJM's court last week to replace sections 279, 338, and 304A of the IPC with new sections in the warrant.
Murder and conspiracy charges have already been filed against Ashish Mishra and others. "Attempt to murder" and additional charges are being sought by the Special Investigation
Team.
Mr Diwakar stated in his application that the incident was well-planned and premeditated, rather than the result of negligence or callousness.
The SIT official has requested the court to add Sections 307 - attempt to murder; 326 - Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means; 34 - Acts done by several persons
in furtherance of common intention, of the Indian Penal Code.
The major development comes as elections near in Uttar Pradesh. State ruling BJP which earlier remain tight-lipped about Ajay Mishra’s removal is now expected to speak out. As the
party gears up for polls, inaction against the union minister can enrage farmers who are now packing up from protesting sites.
On October 3, as many as eight people were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh during a farmers' protest.
After four farmers were allegedly run over by an SUV driven by Ashish Mishra, violence erupted, killing four more people, including a journalist. An SUV was shown ploughing over farmers
at full speed in videos that sparked outrage.
The Lakhimpur police have filed two FIRs. One of the cases filed by the deceased farmers' family cited Ashish Mishra as the primary accused. Another FIR was filed in Lakhimpur by Sumit
Jaiswal, a BJP worker, against unnamed farmers accused of encouraging the following violence.
Jaiswal was seen rushing from one of the SUVs that crushed the farmers in viral videos. In the Ashish Mishra FIR, he was later jailed
as a co-accused.