Lakhimpur violence: MoS Ajay Mishra's son questioned by SIT; farmer leaders demand arrest of both

Ashish Mishra was named in an FIR following allegations that he was in one of the vehicles that mowed down four farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri

Union Minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra, who was accused of running over four farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, on Saturday appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the incident and was grilled for over ten hours.

Ashish, who failed to appear before the cops on Friday, drove to the police station in Lakhimpur Kheri town, accompanied by his lawyer, and submitted himself for questioning.

According to the police sources here, Ashish handed over a dozen pen drives, which purportedly contained videos showing his presence elsewhere on the day the incident had occurred.

Read | Those who killed BJP workers not culprits: Tikait

He also submitted a few affidavits containing statements of the witnesses, who claimed that he was not present on the spot on October 3, when eight people, including four farmers, were killed in the violence at Tikonia in the district.

Sources said that Ashish was confronted with the videos, which were in possession of the police and was grilled on his whereabouts at the time of the incident.

A large number of BJP workers had gathered outside the police station while Ashish was being questioned by the cops.

It was not clear if Ashish would be arrested after questioning. ''The decision to arrest him will be taken by the police after the questioning is over,'' said a senior police official in Lakhimpur Kheri.

Also Read | Lakhimpur violence a pre-planned conspiracy, allege farmers

Ashish was earlier called for questioning by the cops on Friday but he failed to appear before the police.

While both Ashish and his father Ajay Mishra had claimed that the former was not present in any of the vehicles, one of which ran over a crowd of farmers killing four of them, the farmers claimed that the minister's son was in one of the SUVs with a friend of his.

Eight people, including four farmers and a local scribe, were killed in the violence at Tikonia in the district when hundreds of farmers held protests against Mishra over the latter's remarks threatening them of dire consequences if they continued to oppose the new farm laws.

Watch latest videos by DH here: