Supreme Court expresses displeasure with non production of witnesses in Lakhimpur Kheri violence case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed displeasure over non-production of witnesses in the ongoing trial against Ashish Mishra, son of former Union Minister Ajay Mishra, and others in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi pointed out the status report filed before it by the Uttar Pradesh government assigned no reason for the non-production of witnesses.

The bench noted that no witnesses had been examined in the trial for around two months. 

“We direct the presiding judge to take lawful measures to secure the presence of witnesses,” the bench said, directing the trial court judge to make endeavour to conclude the trial in a time-bound manner. 

The court also asked the judge to file a status report, while hearing a plea related to the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. 

The trial in two cases related to the incident is ongoing before a court in Uttar Pradesh.

On October 3, 2021, eight people, including four farmers, were killed in Tikunia, Lakhimpur Kheri district, during a farmers' protest against Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit to the area. 

Four farmers were mowed down by a sports utility vehicle. A driver and two BJP workers were then allegedly lynched by angry farmers. A journalist also died in the violence.