Ashish Misra, the son of Union Minister Ajay Teni Misra and the 'main accused' in the Lakhimpur case, on Friday, 8 October, was summoned by the Uttar Pradesh police again. This comes after he snubbed summons the first time around and did not show up on Friday, as had been directed to him.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, on Friday, said that it was "not satisfied with the actions taken by the state" in the Lakhimpur Kheri case. Fixing 20 October as the next date of hearing, the court sought for steps to be taken to ensure evidence is protected.
Eight persons, including four farmers, were reported dead in Lakhimpur on Sunday. Unrest had ensued in the area after three protesting farmers had allegedly been run over by a convoy of cars, one of which was purportedly driven by Union Minister Ajay Teni Misra's son.
"We have full faith in law. My son is innocent. He will appear before police Saturday to record statement," Union Minister Ajay Misra, who arrived in Lucknow on Friday, was quoted as saying by PTI.
2 persons accused in the Lakhimpur violence case – Luvkush and Ashish Pandey – were arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police on Thursday
Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi, as well as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, met the families of the farmers who lost their lives in the unrest in Lakhimpur
A new version of an earlier video clip that showed an SUV purportedly ramming into protesting farmers from behind in Lakhimpur Kheri emerged on Thursday
Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, demanding that the police arrest Ashish Misra, is observing a fast and a 'maun vrat'
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Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka's 'Political Tourism' Is Unfortunate: Anurag Thakur
Union Minister Anurag Thakur, calling Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi's visit to the families of the deceased farmers 'political tourism,' suggested that the Congress leaders don't believe in the judicial probe into the incident.
"I think some people don't believe in the judicial process. Those who're doing political tourism (in UP over Lakhimpur incident) is unfortunate. Several crime incidents took place in Rajasthan, Punjab and Chhattisgarh but Priyanka and Rahul never visited there," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
In Photos: Navjot Singh Sidhu Observes Hunger Strike
Navjot Singh Sidhu is observing a fast and a 'maun vrat' (silence) at the residence of journalist Raman Kashyap, who lost his life in the Lakhimpur unrest on Sunday.
Sidhu has said that he will continue to fast until action is taken against MoS Misra's son, who is the main accused in the case.
'Police Treating MoS's Son Like Their Son-in-Law': Randeep Surjewala
"The keeper of the law and order of the country is the Home Minister of the country. When the son of the Minister of State for Home of the country is a criminal, the police treat him like the son-in-law of the police, he becomes the son-in-law of the administration. If he is treated like the son-in-law of the police, then who will catch the criminals and who will implement the constitution and law?" asked Congress leader Randeep Surjewala in a press conference on Friday.
'Police Arrested Me Without FIR but Can't Arrest Ashish Misra': Priyanka Gandhi
"Police arrested me without any FIR but they're not able to arrest the person against whom an FIR has been registered. Eyewitnesses are saying that he (Ashish Mishra) was present there," Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said, retaliating to Union Minister Ajay Misra's statement denying that his son was present at the site of the unrest.
Gandhi had been detained for nearly two days by the Uttar Pradesh police in Sitapur, after she was stopped from travelling to Lakhimpur on Monday.