Lakhimpur Kheri : Journalist Crushed By Car; Not Lynched, UP Govt Tells Supreme Court

The Uttar Pradesh Government on Monday orally submitted before the Supreme Court that the local journalist Raman Kashyap who was killed in the violent incident at Lakhimpur Kheri, died due to being crushed by the car and not because of mob lynching.

"Farmers and the journalist were crushed by the car" Senior Advocate Harish Salve appearing for the State of Uttar Pradesh said. 

A bench comprising the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli was hearing a PIL relating to probe into the Lakhmipur Kheri violence of October 3, which claimed the lives of 8 people, four of them being farmers protesters who were allegedly mowed down by the vehicles in the convoy of Ashish Mishra, the son of Union Minister and BJP MP Ajay Kumar Mishra.

Senior Advocate Harish Salve appearing for the State of Uttar Pradesh submitted that the investigation into the journalist's death was shifted from FIR number 220( relating to mob lynching) to FIR number 219 (relating to death of farmers).

He explained that the same had to be done, as originally the suggestion appeared to be that Kashyap was part of the accused Ashish Mishra's team, but later on the UP Police realized he was actually outside in the crowd and was crushed by the car.

The submissions were made by Mr Salve after the Bench expressed concern regarding the case against the prime accused in the case relating to attack on farmers being diluted by clubbing the investigation with the counter-case of mob lynching.

Mr Salve clarified that the the confusion arose due to the shifting of Kashyap's death to FIR 219 from FIR 220.

The Bench, which had prior to these submissions by Mr Salve suggested the monitoring of investigation by a Former Judge from a High Court, reiterated its stand and stated, "instead of all this confusion let an independent judge monitor the issue"

Referring to the Journalist's death, Justice Surya Kant stated "That is the reason why monitoring is required, that innocent journalist, his cause of death was entirely different than what was sought to be projected"

Justice Kant observed that the impression given was that he was beaten to death.

Mr Salve submitted that the trouble is "when political overtones are given to everything".

"That's why, we don't want any political overtone. Let an independent judge monitor the issue. This is only solution which we are thinking. You find out from your Government. We will take it on Friday." CJI said.

The Bench said that the investigation is "not going the way we expected".  The bench expressed dissatisfaction at the fact that the forensic lab reports regarding the video evidence have not yet come and that the mobile phones of all accused have not been seized.

Also from the hearing : Lakhmipur Kheri Case Probe "Not Going The Way We Expected" : Supreme Court Mulls Appointing Retired HC Judge To Monitor

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