Lakhimpur farmers' killings: SIT chargesheet says Union Minister Teni's son was on the spot

The 5,000-page charge sheet filed by the SIT probing the Lakhimpur Kheri farmers' killings has some damning evidence against Union Minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra.

The minister's son has been named as the main accused in the case where 4 farmers and a journalist were run over by a speeding SUV in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3.

The charge sheet, which was submitted in the court of a Chief Judicial Magistrate, has stated that Ashish Mishra was at the spot where the violence took place.

The charge sheet reportedly has quoted witnesses, who saw Ashish Mishra on the spot on the day of the incident.

Both Minister Ajay Mishra Teni and his son have continuously claimed that Ashish was not in the SUV or on the spot during the incident.

It did not have the name of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra, reports said quoting sources.

A senior prosecution officer told PTI that the court accepted the charge sheet and fixed January 10 as the next date of hearing.

Apart from the 13 people arrested so far, another accused Virendra Shukla's name has been added to the charge sheet. Shukla is yet to be arrested and he is the minister’s relative.

Also watch | Lakhimpur Kheri: Rahul Gandhi goes for union minister's head after SIT report

The charges against the accused include murder, an attempt to murder and violations under the Arms Act.

The filing of the charge sheet has renewed the demand for the minister’s dismissal.

"The entire country has seen the truth of the 5,000-page charge sheet in the form of a video. Yet the Modi government is trying to save the accused. India is a witness! #Lakhimpur#Farmers", Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi, while seeking the dismissal of Ajay Mishra.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi said, "They are in the position of protector but stand with the destroyer. In the charge sheet of the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre case, the son of the Union Minister of State for Home is the main accused in the crushing of farmers." "But due to Narendra Modiji's patronage, Minister Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’ did not even come under the scrutiny of the investigation and he remains in his post," Priyanka alleged demanding the sacking of the minister.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav in a tweet said the charge sheet has exposed the double-engine government of the BJP.

"Today, every supporter-worker of the BJP is embarrassed and scared of social boycott," he said.