THE TOP COURT DIRECTED THE UP GOVERNMENT TO GRANT PROTECTION TO THE WITNESS OF THE LAKHIMPUR KHERI CASE

The Top Court directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to grant protection to witnesses of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. The Bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli also directed the Uttar Pradesh government to record witness statements expeditiously. 

After going through the status report, the CJI asked, "Why have you kept all accused except one in police custody? To which Garima Prashad, Additional Advocate General for the UP government, told the bench that witness statements are still recorded. Senior Advocate Harish Salve further told the bench that statements of 30 witnesses out of 68 had been recorded. The Court then asked, "Only 23 people were there? there were hundreds of farmers in a rally". To which Salve replied that "people who saw the ones in the car are already there." 

Unsatisfied with Salve's response, Justice Kant noted, "there were around 4,000 or 5,000 local people. After the Incident, most of them have been agitating for an inquiry. Identification of such persons in the vehicle should not be a great issue." 

Salve disclosed to the Court that all sixteen accused had been identified.

The Court eventually adjourned the matter to November 8.

Background

Previously, the Court pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government for handling the probe into the Incident leniently. The Court sought a status report from the UP government on FIR registered and arrests made in connection with the Incident. 

Author: Papiha Ghoshal