One more accused arrested, two move plea for surrender

LAKHIMPUR KHERI: Police here on Tuesday arrested one more person in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence and produced him in a court, which sent him to 14-day judicial custody. Two people have moved applications for surrender at the chief judicial magistrate court.

Senior prosecution officer SP Yadav said they have sought 14-day police custody of Shekhar Bharti and the hearing in this regard will take place on Wednesday.

He was sent to 14-day judicial custody, he said. With Bharti’s arrest, police so far have arrested four people. Earlier, they had arrested Union minister Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra, Luvkush and Ashish Pandey in connection with the violence, which claimed eight lives.

According to a report, Shekhar was driving a black Fortuner, which was behind the car that knocked down four farmers. However, police did not confirm anything about Shekhar.

Yadav said Shekhar was produced in the court of the chief judical magistrate.

In another development, two people--Ankit Das and Latif-moved an application for surrender at the court of the chief judicial magistrate. Ankit Das is stated to be a friend of Ashish and is nephew of the former minister late Akhilesh Das. The Fortuner is said to be owned by him.

Nothing is know about Latif. When asked who they are, Yadav said the prosecution has sought a report from the police station regarding their status in connection with the Tikonia violence first information report (FIR).

Police will be telling about them and their involvement in their report, he added. Eight people died in the October 3 violence and of them four were farmers, allegedly knocked down by a vehicle carrying BJP workers.

Infuriated farmers then allegedly lynched some people in the vehicles. The other dead included two BJP workers and their driver.

A local scribe had also died in the incident.