Lakhimpur Kheri violence: SC takes suo moto cognizance, to hear case on Thursday
Darpan News Desk IANS, 06 Oct, 2021 11:12 AM
New Delhi, Oct 6 (IANS) The Supreme Court has taken suo moto cognizance of the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri, where farmers were allegedly mowed down by a car on October 3, triggering a violent backlash.
9 persons, including four farmers, were killed in the violence that had erupted during a farmers' protest in Lakhimpur Kheri.
A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli will hear the matter on Thursday. The matter has been listed as 'violence in Lakhimpur Kheri (UP) leading to loss of life'.
Earlier, two apex court lawyers had written to the Chief Justice seeking a CBI probe into the matter under the supervision of the top court.
The letter, written by advocates Shiv Kumar Tripathi and C.S. Panda, said: "With regard to the seriousness of the killing of the farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, it is incumbent upon this Hon'ble Court to intervene in the matter as flashed in the press."
The lawyers had claimed that of late, violence has become the political culture of the country.
The lawyers said that there is a need to protect the rule of law in 'violence-ravaged' Uttar Pradesh, which is evident from media reports.
The letter said the Lakhimpur Kheri incident calls for direction against the UP government and the concerned bureaucrats along with the 'law-breaking police' machinery under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home, so that the "cult of violence comes to a grinding halt".
The official informed that the high-mast flags have already been erected at three locations -- East Kidwai Nagar, East Vinod Nagar and Rani Bagh. The remaining two in Kalkaji and Dwarka will also be erected by August 15.
The Home Ministry's response came after the Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal's tweet apprehending that the Centre was planning to appoint a full- fledged Administrator for Chandigarh.
The food claimed the lives of three of her family members including the father, younger sister and elder brother last week. The police said that the 15-year-old girl had mixed weedicides into food to 'punish' her brother and mother who used to rebuke and scold her over household chores.
The deceased, a resident of Nachinola village in North Goa, was missing since Wednesday morning and a missing complaint was filed by her father with a local police station.
The area has been cordoned off and additional forces have reached the spot. Police said the terrorists involved in firing have been trapped and an operation has been started by the police and security forces.
