Two farmers arrested for alleged lynching of 3 BJP workers at Lakhimpur Kheri

Amid opposition calls for the resignation of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni over his son's involvement in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested two farmers, Kamaljeet Singh (29) and Kawaljeet Singh Sonu (35), in connection with the alleged lynching of three BJP workers during the violence on October 3, 2021. The two, who feature on the list of pictures of suspects released by the SIT earlier, has allegedly been hiding from the police for the last two months. They will be produced before a magistrate and their remand custody will be sought by the investigating officer.

Six farmers have been arrested thus far in connection with the death of the three BJP workers. Vichitra Singh, Gurwinder Singh, Avtaar Singh, and Ranjeet Singh were arrested earlier this year.

Based on the complaint of BJP worker Sumit Jaiswal, an FIR with charges of murder and rioting was initially registered against 'unidentified farmers'. Sumit himself is co-accused along with Ashish Mishra in the deaths of four farmers and a journalist during the violence. The FIR filed by Sumit, however, does not mention the deaths of the five allegedly mowed down by Ashish's convoy.

The first FIR- against Ashish and others- was lodged by the police based on the complaint filed by farmers. Terming the incident as 'planned', the SIT arrested 13 people in that case.

The apex court reconstituted the SIT in November 2021. IPS officers SB Shiradkar, Preetinder Singh, and Padmaja Chauhan, along with retired judge of the Punjab and Haryana high court, Rakesh Kumar Jain, were added to the team to probe the violence.