Lakhimpur violence case: New SIT team visits site to begin probe
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A total of eight people including three farmers had died in the violence in the Lakhimpur Kheri district on October 3
Lakhimpur Kheri (Uttar Pradesh): The three members of the newly formed Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up by the Supreme Court to probe the Lakhimpur Kheri incident has visited the Tikunia village on Thursday afternoon.
A total of eight people including three farmers had died in the violence in the Lakhimpur Kheri district on October 3 during a farmers' protest.
The officials include SB Shiradkar, ADG, intelligence; Padmaja Chauhan, IG and DIG Dr Preetinder Singh.
They were accompanied by the retired judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court Rakesh Kumar Jain, who was recently been appointed by the Supreme Court to monitor the probe.
As per reports, the SIT team carried out an inspection of the violence spot and prepared a map of the area. The team also visited Agrasen Inter college, where the farmers had initially gathered for the protest on October 3.
The SIT team then reached MoS home Ajay Kumar Mishra's native village Banbirpur, a few km away from the crime spot and visited the place, where 'dangal' (wrestling) programme was being organised on the day. Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya was to attend the event.
Later, on Thursday evening, the SIT members held a meeting with all other SIT members, including DIG and former head of the SIT, Upendra Agarwal. No official statement was given out.
It may be recalled that the Supreme Court had earlier expressed its reservations over the manner in which the investigation was being conducted by the earlier SIT and had incorporated three IPS officers in the probe team.
The reconstituted SIT is now being led by 1993 batch IPS officer Shiradkar, currently posted as additional director general of police (ADG), intelligence, in Lucknow.
Preetinder Singh is a 2004 batch IPS officer of Punjab cadre and is currently posted as DIG in Saharanpur range.
Padmaja Chauhan is a 1998 batch IPS officer currently serving as IG, recruitment board.
Violence broke out in Lakhimpur when a jeep allegedly ran over eight people including four farmers, leading to their death. Three BJP workers were lynched after the angry farmers retaliated.
Union Minister of State (Home) Ajay Mishra's son, Ashish, is the prime accused and is currently in jail.