Investigators have written to a judge to modify the charges against the accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case (PTI photo)
New Delhi: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Tuesday took cognizance of The SIT's latest report into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence and said it reaffirmed the stand of protesting farmers that the incident was pre-planned.
Earlier on Tuesday, the SIT probing the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case had urged the chief judicial magistrate to replace lesser charges in the case like causing death by negligence with the attempt to murder, saying that it was a ''pre-planned conspiracy causing death''.
The probe team also made grave indictments against 13 accused in the case, including Ashish Mishra Teni, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni.
Responding to the SIT investigation's report, the umbrella body of farmers' unions said the finding has reaffirmed its stand that the incident was a ''pre-planned massacre''.
In a statement, the farmers' body pointed out that the chief mastermind of the incident, Ajay Mishra Teni is continuing to roam free and holding his position in the Union Government.
In the light of the latest findings, SKM demanded that the Modi government should stop shielding this 'conspirator of the Kisan massacre in Lakhimpur Kheri'.'
The farmers had then been protesting at Lakhimpur Kheri, just as at various places across India, demanding withdrawal of the three farm laws.
Reiterating its demand for dismissal and arrest of senior Mishra, the SKM said that it shall continue its struggle on this issue. "Indian farmers shall not forget this massacre, till we secure justice for the victims."
In its submission to the magistrate, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has affirmed that: "So far, it has been proved from the analysis and collected evidence that the accused did not commit the criminal act out of negligence and disregard, but intentionally, with the motive of killing the farmers according to a pre-planned strategy, due to which five people have died."
On October 3, eight people, including four protesting farmers, had died when an SUV belonging to Ashish Mishra had mowed them down on the outskirts of Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh. One local journalist had died in the ensuing violence.