Dragging your feet: SC slams UP Govt on Lakhimpur Kheri violence
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court has questioned the Uttar Pradesh government's handling of the probe into the Lakhimpur Kheri agitations which left eight dead and numerous injured. The SC was speaking out on the perceived delay in recording witness statements before a judicial magistrate.
"You are dragging your feet. Please dispel that impression," said the bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli. The court also took umbrage to the fact that only 4 witnesses out of 44 had recorded their statement before a magistrate, as submitted by the UP government's lawyer Harish Salve. The bench also dismissed Harish Salve's explanation that the delay was due to courts being closed during Dussehra festivities.
"This should not be an unending matter," said CJ Ramana as quoted by IANS. Salve assured the bench that investigations were ongoing into the two filed FIRs, one for the car which was driven into protestors and the other for the lynching at the site. Four out of the ten accused were in custody he said.
The matter has been posted for hearing on October 26.