Lakhimpur Kheri case: SC names retired HC judge Rakesh Kumar Jain to monitor SIT probe

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday appointed retired Punjab and Haryana high court judge Rakesh Kumar Jain to supervise the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into Lakhimpur Kheri incident.
The apex court also ordered the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government to draft in three senior IPS officers, including a woman police officer, into the SIT to probe the October 3 Lakhimpur Kheri incidents - mowing down of four farmers, lynching of three accused and death of a journalist.
The UP government, during the hearing, apprised the Supreme Court that it was paying victim compensation to the four farmers mowed down in Lakhimpur Kheri. It, however, told the court that it is not sure whether to pay compensation to the accused persons who were lynched.
The top court had on Monday asked the UP government to look into the grievance of individuals who have not been paid compensation in the case.
The Supreme Court will next hear the case after the SIT concludes the probe and afiles the status report to this effect.
Four farmers were mowed down by an SUV in the convoy at Lakhimpur Kheri when a group 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 on October 3.
Two BJP workers and a driver were beaten to death allegedly by the angry protesters, and a local journalist was killed in the violence.
The police have so far arrested 13 accused, including Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra, in connection with the case.
- With agency inputs