“We have nothing to hide”, says Prashant Kumar, additional director general of police in charge of law and order in Uttar Pradesh as demands for the arrest of the accused in Lakhimpur Kheri violence, have gripped the state.
Lakhimpur Kheri has turned into a political battleground after eight people were killed as violence broke out after a car hit protesting farmers. Ashish Misra, son of union minister of state for home, Ajay Mishra has been named in one of the FIRs for allegedly running over protesting farmers. After Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi was stopped from meeting the victims, Kumar said the state is in turmoil as it has become a “political theatre”.
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“All political parties going there have been asked to restrict their leaders to five in number during their visits,” he said …
Excerpts from the interview :
Q. How many FIRs have been registered in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence?
Two FIRs have been registered, one each from both sides. Four farmers have died and four from the other side also lost their lives.
Whatever the complainants have given the police, we have written it verbatim in the FIRs with commas and full stops included.
An investigation team of seven people has been formed to supervise and look into all aspects of the incident and investigate all the charges. The team is being supervised by Arun Kumar Singh, additional superintendent of police of Lakhimpur Kheri.
Q. There is controversy over the role of Ashish Misra, son of union minister Ajay Misra. Can you elaborate?
Union minister Ajay Mishra’s son has been named in one of the FIRs. Nothing can be said conclusively about his presence or role in the incident till the investigation is complete.
Q. Was It the union minister’s convoy at the spot?
It is difficult to say anything about it till the probe is completed.
Q. How has the incident impacted law and order in UP?
It is a very sad incident. Everything is in big turmoil as it has become a political theatre for everyone. But things have been brought under control by the state government.
Q. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi has alleged UP police used illegal force on her and did not serve any papers when she was stopped on her way to Lakhimpur Kheri?
The priority of the UP police has been to maintain law and order. Initially, the district administration did not allow her to enter and the orders were issued by the district magistrate. The DM of Sitapur can explain how it was done but everything was done to maintain law and order at the critical time. We have nothing to hide.
Q. The farmers have been protesting and there are apprehensions about a fair probe?
The genuine demands of farmers have been agreed upon which is why they were willing to hand over the dead bodies. Compensation of Rupees 45 lakh each has been given to the deceased and Rs 10 lakh to the injured. One family member from each family of the deceased has also been offered a government job.
A Judicial inquiry headed by a retired judge of the high court has been set up. There is a procedure of instituting a commission of inquiry and the state government is doing it.
Q. Are political leaders allowed to go there now?
Now that the cremation has happened peacefully whoever wants to visit the family is being allowed. All political parties going there have been asked to restrict their leaders to five in number during their visits.
Q. There have been concerns about the post-mortem reports in some cases?
Out of four farmers who died, one family was not satisfied with the postmortem report. They had some differences and requested for another post-mortem. An expert team of five doctors was sent in a special chopper from Lucknow to Bahraich in compliance with orders from the chief minister's office for a repeat post mortem and it is only after that the body was cremated.
