Lakhimpur-Kheri Violence: After SC Rap, UP Police Book BJP Leader Teni, Son For Threatening Witness
New Delhi: The Lakhimpur-Kheri police have lodged an FIR against former Union minister of state for home and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’, his son Ashish Mishra and two others for allegedly threatening a witness in the case related to the killing of eight people during the farmers’ protests in 2021.
On October 3, 2021, Teni’s son’s convoy allegedly rammed three farmers and a journalist in Tikunia, Lakhimpur-Kheri. The deceased farmers were returning from protesting three Modi government farm laws when the incident occurred and resulted in the deaths of eight people.
Later on, after a long and massive farmer protest, the government repealed these laws.
The latest FIR against Teni, his son and others were registered after the Supreme Court, in August this year, questioned the Uttar Pradesh police for delaying action on a complaint (by Baljinder Singh, the witness), reported Hindustan Times.
The action was delayed on the pretext that the witness was unwilling to visit the police station to file a complaint. After the top court rapped the Uttar Pradesh police, the FIR was lodged on October 4 at the Padua police station of Lakhimpur Kheri, on the application of Baljinder Singh, the prime witness in the Tikunia violence case, reported HT.
The FIR names Teni, his son Ashish Mishra, Amandeep Singh and an unidentified person.
Baljinder Singh, the complainant in the case who is also a resident of Lakhimpur Kheri, alleged that Amandeep Singh and another person visited his house in Bhairampur village of Lakhimpur Kheri on August 15, 2023, and threatened him not to testify against Ashish Mishra in trial court (Lakhimpur Kheri) in the Tikunia violence case.
He further alleged that Amandeep Singh offered him money and issued threats, if he didn’t comply.
It has also been alleged in the complaint that when Baljinder Singh was getting ready on August 16, 2023, to testify as a witness in the court in Lakhimpur, Amandeep Singh and an unidentified person reached his in-laws’ house. The men once again allegedly threatened him and also attempted to lure him with Rs. 1 lakh cash to convince him not to appear in court.
According to the FIR, after this incident, Baljinder Singh left his village and settled in Punjab to ensure his safety.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan had appeared before the Supreme Court on behalf of Baljinder Singh, and informed the apex court on August 4 this year about the threats he was receiving. The Supreme Court had directed the UP Police to investigate the complaint and file a status report.
“After the Supreme Court directives, Kheri police team contacted Baljinder Singh and verified the complaint. After that, an FIR was lodged. The FIR has been filed under IPC sections 195A (threatening any person to give false evidence), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) against four accused. Further probe is on,” said Kheri SP Sankalp Sharma.
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