Lakhimpur violence: Supreme Court directs retired High Court judge to oversee probe

The Lakhimpur violence case is not being investigated as expected. From the status report it appears that everything is going at a slow pace. This is a matter of concern, the Supreme Court said. The apex court has recommended that the probe into the case be handed over to a former high court judge.
The Lakhimpur violence case was heard in the Supreme Court. The apex court expressed displeasure over the status report of the probe, saying the probe was not going as expected. That is why a retired High Court judge should now be appointed to oversee the investigation. The apex court also directed the UP government to respond within four days.
It has directed the UP government to consider handing over the case to a retired High Court judge till the chargesheet is filed. For this, former Punjab and Haryana judges Rakesh Kumar Jain and Ranjit Singh have been asked to consider the names.
"We have examined the status report," the apex court said. The investigation does not seem to be going the way we had hoped. The court gave 10 days to gather more information, but no new information was added. Laboratory report not received. After 10 days, the apex court had expressed displeasure over the non-inclusion of new information in the inquiry.
Twelve accused, including Union Minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra, have been arrested in the case. Four farmers were killed in the Lakhimpur violence. The protesting farmers were hit by an SUV. Three more were killed and a local journalist was killed in the ensuing violence.