Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Eight of the 90 key witnesses want security removed

The witnesses have written to the local administration in this regard, citing personal reasons

Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Eight of the 90 key witnesses want security removed

Eight people, including 4 farmers, were killed on October 3. File pic.

In an interesting development, eight of the 90 key witnesses in the Lakhimpur Kheri case in which Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Ajay Mishra Teni, is the main accused, want their police security removed. These witnesses have written to the local administration in this regard.

A total of eight people, including four farmers, were killed in the Tikunia area of Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3. Security was provided to each of the 90 key witnesses of the case by the police after recording their statement before a magistrate, on the directions of the Supreme Court last month.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Arun Kumar Singh, who is also a member of the nine-member special investigation committee probing the incident, said, "Eight key witnesses have submitted applications wanting their security to be withdrawn citing personal reasons. Their applications will be reviewed before removing security."

The local police declined to reveal the identity of the witnesses who want their security removed. It may be recalled that on October 3, violence erupted after an SUV mowed down four farmers near the Banbirpur village under Tikunia police circle of Lakhimpur Kheri. Four other people, including two BJP workers Shubham Mishra and Shyam Sunder, journalist Raman Kashyap and a driver Hari Om Mishra, were also killed.

Two FIRs -- the first in connection with the mowing down of four farmers and the second regarding the killing of four others -- were registered at the Tikunia police station. The special investigation committee probing the case has arrested 13 accused, including Ashish Mishra, in connection with the first case and two accused in the second case.

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