We, too, are victims, but none talking about justice for us: Kin of killed BJP workers, driver

LAKHIMPUR KHERI: Sushma Mishra’s eyes are glued to the picture of her son Shubham Mishra, 26, who was killed in the violence at Tikunia village in Lakhimpur Kheri five days ago on October 3.

The mother replies to the conversation of relatives just by nodding without moving her gaze away from the picture.

“Kya kisi ki gadi main bethne ki saza maut hoti hai? Mera beta bas unki gadi main betha tha usne kisi ko nuksan nahi pahunchaya. Phir bhi use maut ke ghat utar dia gaya (Is death the punishment for sitting in a vehicle? My son was sitting in the vehicle but he didn’t harm anyone. Still, he was killed),” she said.

A BJP booth incharge in Lakhimpur, Shubham Mishra was associated with the party and Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra Teni’s son Ashish Mishra for over five years. The family believes that his association is being used by Opposition leaders to malign him after his death.

“Several politicians have visited the families of others killed in the violence, but nobody came to our house. Now, the police are also accusing Shubham for the incident. What kind of justice is this?” asked Shubham’s paternal uncle Anoop Mishra.

Shubham is also survived by his wife and a one-year-old daughter. The couple got married in 2018.

Hari Om Mishra, 31, was allegedly driving the vehicle that hit the villagers first.

He was also killed in the violence that ensued. He was the only breadwinner of his family of 10.

Maheshwari Mishra, one of the three sisters of Hari Om, refuses to believe that her brother was driving the vehicle.

“My brother was a simple person who cared about all of us. I know that a person like that can never take anyone’s life. We are also victims of violence, but no one is talking about justice for us,” the sister complained. Though some local BJP members have visited the family no one from the opposition came to their house after the incident, the sister claimed.

Shyam Sunder Nishad, 30, another BJP worker , was also killed in the incident.

His mother Phoolmati alleged that the police failed to save her son.

“The death of our people is being treated as less severe than the death of those on the other side (farmers). We will get justice only when those who killed my son will be caught and hanged,” she said.

Nishad was an office bearer of the BJP from the Singahi area of Lakhimpur Kheri.