‘Bullets were fired from Ashish Mishra’s gun’

Ashish Mishra being escorted out of the crime branch office

Trouble has mounted for Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni's son Ashish Mishra, as the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report has confirmed that shots were fired from the licensed guns of accused Ashish and his friend Ankit Das during the violence at Lakhimpur Kheri district on October 3. Farmers had alleged that a car, in which Ashish was sitting, ran over protesting farmers at Tikunia village, following which he opened fire at the others.

Police visit Lakhimpur Kheri district's Tikunia village. File Pics/PTI

The Lakhimpur Kheri police had seized weapons - rifle, revolver, repeater gun and pistol licensed to Ashish and Ankit. All the firearms were sent for forensic testing on October 15, the report of which came in on Tuesday.

Farmers had alleged that Ashish and Ankit had fired several rounds, after the former's car mowed down protesting farmers. However, the duo, currently in jail, had denied the allegations. Ajay Mishra had even claimed that Ashish was not in Lakhimpur Kheri on the day of the incident. Four farmers were killed on October 3, when a group of them agitating against the Centre's three new farm laws was holding a demonstration against the visit of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.

Ashish Mishra (centre) and other accused in the case, outside a court in Lakhimpur, on October 22. Pic/PTI

Two BJP workers and a driver were beaten to death allegedly by the angry protesters, and a local journalist was killed in the violence. Ashish is among the 13 people arrested in connection with the death of the farmers. The Supreme Court on Monday observed that the probe into the violence was not going as it had expected, and suggested to the state government that a former judge of a "different high court" monitor the investigation.

Oct 3
Day the incident happened in Lakhimpur Kheri

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