The Supreme Court on Friday said it is not satisfied with steps taken by the UP government in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. Eight people, including  four farmers who were mowed down by the BJP convoy, were killed on October 3. The SC questioned the government over not arresting the accused. It also asked the state whether accused in other cases lodged under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC are treated the same way. Ashish Mishra, son of a Union minister, is a key accused in the case and is yet to be arrested.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana told senior advocate Harish Salve, representing the Yogi Adityanath-led state government, to communicate to the top most police officer that evidence and other relevant materials in the case are not destroyed. “What is the message you [state] are sending,” said the bench. “If you see the FIR, section 302 is there. Is it the same way you treat other accused,” the bench asked, while terming it as a “very serious charge”. It posted the matter for hearing on October 20.