Lakhimpur: Ashish Mishra sent to 3-day police custody

Lakhimpur Kheri (UP): The Uttar Pradesh Police on Monday got three-day remand of Union minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.

Eight people, including four farmers, were killed in the violence on October 3.

"Police had demanded a 14-day remand of Ashish. They have got three-day remand from October 12 to 15," Senior Prosecution Officer (SPO) SP Yadav told reporters. The remand will end on October 15 morning.

The police remand was granted by Chief Judicial Magistrate Chintaram, with the condition that Ashish Mishra will not be harassed and his lawyer will remain present during interrogation, Yadav said.

Earlier, a court had sent Ashish Mishra to 14-day judicial custody. Ashish was arrested on Saturday night after around 12 hours of questioning in connection with the Lakhimpur violence.

Mishra was named in an FIR following allegations that he was in one of the vehicles that mowed down four farmers protesting over UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's visit last Sunday.

While farmer leaders and Opposition parties had been demanding Mishra's arrest, the minister and his son had denied the allegations.

Two BJP workers and their driver were allegedly lynched by angry farmers in the violence. Local journalist Raman Kashyap also died.

Aged around 35, Ashish Mishra, alias Monu, looks after political activities of his father in his Kheri parliamentary constituency and was also vying for party ticket from the Nighasan seat to contest the upcoming UP Assembly polls.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders led by party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra staged a silent protest in Lucknow on Monday demanding the dismissal of Union minister Ajay Mishra. Congressmen sat on a 'maun vrat' in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, demanding the dismissal of the Union minister, a party spokesperson said.

Congress workers and leaders, including state president Ajay Kumar Lallu, Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra, leader in the Legislative Council Dipak Singh among others converged at the GPO park here and were later were joined by Priyanka, the spokesperson said.

The party has demanded dismissal of the minister for ensuring a free and fair investigation in the case. No politician will be allowed to share the stage with farm leaders during the last prayers for the four farmers killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence on October 3, a BKU office-bearer said. Preparations for the "antim ardas" (final prayers) are underway at a field, away from the spot where the violence took place in Tikonia village.

"The 'antim ardas' for all the dead farmers will be held on Tuesday at Tikonia," BKU-Tikait's district president Amandeep Singh Sandhu said on Monday. On whether politicians will be part of the prayers, BKU-Tikait district vice-president Balkar Singh said: "No political leader will be allowed to share the stage where only Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders will be present."