Lakhimpur Kheri violence a 'well-planned & deliberate act': SIT

Lakhimpur Kheri: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the October 3 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, has found that the incident was well-planned and a deliberate act, and not of negligence or callousness.

As per reports, the probe team has filed an application before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) to include new sections against the 13 accused to make their offence punishable under attempt to murder charges.

The investigating officer has requested to add Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 326 (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code after replacing sections 279 (Rash driving or riding on a public way), 338 (Whoever causes grievous hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently) and 304A (Causing death by negligence) of the IPC.

"The SIT on Monday moved an application in the court stating that during the course of the investigation they found new evidence and sought to invoke IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) against the accused booked in the murder of four farmers and a journalist. The SIT also requested to invoke Arms Act against accused," defence counsel Awadesh Kumar Singh said. "The court has summoned all the 13 accused tomorrow (Tuesday)," said Singh 

On October 3, eight people, including four protesting farmers, died after being mowed down by a SUV belonging to Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni's son Ashish Mishra.

A local journalist was also killed in the violence.

The SIT has so far arrested Ashish Mishra, Luvkush, Ashish Pandey, Shekhar Bharti, Ankit Das, Latif, Sishupal, Nandan Singh, Satyam Tripathi, Sumit Jaiswal, Dharmendra Banjara, Rinku Rana and Ullas Trivedi.

They are lodged in the Lakhimpur Kheri district jail.