On Thursday the Uttar Pradesh government announced that a committee to probe the Lakhimpur Kheri district violence in which 8 farmers were killed will be headed by a retired High Court judge.
This comes after the Supreme Court took suo moto cognizance of the violence that has triggered a nationwide backlash. The top court will be hearing the matter today.
Here are the top big development in the matter:-
1. A single-member commission has been formed to inquire into the violence and killings, to be headed by retired High Court Judge Pradeep Kumar Srivastava. The order has been authorised by UP Additional Chief Secretary Awanish Kumar Awasthi. According to the order passed the commission has to complete the enquiry within a period of two months.
2. The case will be heard on Thursday by a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana. Amid the growing uproar over the Uttar Pradesh police's mishandling of the investigation and media reports, the court decided to take up the case. Two lawyers from the state had written a letter to the CJI asking for a CBI probe into the matter under the supervision of the Supreme Court.
Also Read: Varun Gandhi, Rebel in BJP backing farmers in fight against Centre
3. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi met the victims' families on Wednesday who lost their loved ones in the horrific incident.
4. Amongst the eight, four killed were farmers after a speeding car belonging to Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra, Ashish Mishra allegedly ran over them. The other four who died were two BJP workers, a driver of Ajay Mishra and a journalist working for a private television channel.
5. Ashish Mishra has not been arrested even after four days of being named in a police complaint, levelling a murder case against him. The police said they are investigating the clash and a case has been registered against 13 people, including Ashish Mishra even as his father excluded the possibility of resigning and had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi.
6. On being asked if the police were under any pressure, the Additional Director General of the state police, Prashant Kumar, told news agency NDTV: "What pressure? FIR registered, families are satisfied, court too... Time will tell how we act. We will nail the culprit, book them, and produce them before the court. We are aware the world is looking at us".
7. Admitting that the vehicle seen in the video belongs to them Ajay Mishra and his son have denied being present at the scene. They claimed the vehicle lost control and hit the farmers after they showed black flags and pelted stones at the car. Ajay Mishra alleged that the protestors attacked their convoy with sticks and swords. Meanwhile, Ashish Mishra has been denying being present at the spot where the violence happened and remains free till now although an FIR has been filed against him.
8. Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farm unions, have written a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind, demanding the sacking of Ajay Mishra and murder probe against his son.
Also Read: Lakhimpur Kheri violence: SC takes suo moto cognizance, to hear case on Thursday
9. Financial assistance of Rs 45 lakh as compensation for the families of those who died in the incident has been announced by the Uttar Pradesh government, along with Rs 10 lakh to those who suffered injuries in the violence.
10. Sunday’s Lakhimpur Kheri violence was one of the cruellest of all to date, in the prolonged protest by farmers who began the fight against Centre’s three new agriculture laws that has compelled a year.