Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Journalist’s family seeks FIR against union minister, son

The family of Raman Kashyap, a journalist who was among eight people killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, has moved a district court for the registration of another FIR against 14 people, including union minister Ajay Mishra and his son Ashish Mishra, in connection with the scribe's death, according to the Press Trust of India.

This came a day after the Supreme Court expressed its dissatisfaction with the way the violence was being probed. Advocate Harish Salve, representing the state of Uttar Pradesh, said, “The journalist was killed, he was earlier thought to be with Ashish Mishra but then it was seen he was crushed by a car along with farmers.”

During the hearing on Monday, the bench – comprising Chief Justice NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli – underscored the fact that more than a month since the incident, the phones of the accused had not been seized and forensic lab reports of the videos had also not been presented.

The bench stated that even though it was projected as if Raman Kashyap was beaten to death, it is clear that he was mowed down by the vehicles and not lynched.

Earlier, the police and sections of the media had alleged that the journalist was beaten to death by protesters after Ashish Mishra’s convoy ran over those holding demonstrations against the farm laws.

Meanwhile, a forensic report Wednesday confirmed that weapons recovered from Ashish Mishra and others after the Lakhimpur violence had been fired.

Protesting farmers had alleged that Ashish Mishra had opened fire. Though the Forensic Science Laboratory report confirmed that the weapons had been discharged, it does not specify if they were fired on the day of the violence.

Minister Mishra had refuted the allegations that his son was involved in the violence that took place near his native Banbirpur village in the Tikonia area of the district.

Meanwhile, Raman Kashyap's brother Pawan Kashyap moved an application under section 156(3) of CrPC in a district court on Tuesday. Kashyap submitted that his brother had gone to Tikonia on October 3 to cover the farmers’ rally but was crushed to death by a speeding SUV. He claimed that the SIT investigation has made it clear that his brother was crushed to death by a car and not lynched by farmers.

Pawan Kashyap said he had lodged a complaint with the police but no FIR was registered. The next date of hearing is November 15.