Union minister’s son arrested for Lakhimpur Kheri violence
POLICE ACTION COMES FOLLOWING MISRA’S REFUSAL TO COOPERATE IN PROBE
Ashish Misra, the son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Misra, has been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police after 12 hours of interrogation on Saturday for his alleged role in the Oct. 3 violence in Lakhimpur Kheri that left nine persons dead, confirmed Upendra Agrawal, DIG, Saharanpur (Range).
According to sources, Misra has been arrested for not cooperating with the ongoing investigation by the police.
After being served a second notice, Ashish Misra, who has been accused of running over farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, appeared before the police on Saturday to record his statement. Many of his supporters also reached the Crime Branch office in Lakhimpur Kheri where the interrogation took place. His lawyer Awadhesh Singh was also present along with Sadar MLA Yogesh Verma.
The second notice sent by the police had asked Ashish Misra to appear before it on Saturday after he failed to do so on Friday.
Congress to meet President
Amid the political row triggered by Lakhimpur Kheri violence, the Congress has sought an appointment with President Ram Nath Kovind for a sevenmember party delegation led by Rahul Gandhi to present a detailed ‘memorandum of facts’. In a letter dated Oct. 9, the Congress requested the President of India to grant time for the delegation comprising Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Other members of the delegation include senior party leaders AK Antony, Mallikarjun Kharge, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Adhir Ranjan Choudhury and party general secretary K.C. Venugopal.
“The shocking incident of broad day massacre of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh has shaken the conscience of the entire nation. Even more tragic are the open warnings given by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Ajay Mishra Teni and consequent trampling of farmers under a Thar Jeep owned by the Minister and his family”, the letter read. Farmers, who were eye witnesses have openly stated that they were run over by vehicle being driven by the son of the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, the letter alleged.
Despite all round protests and intervention of the Supreme Court, no decisive action has been taken either against the guilty or against the Minister, it said.