#Lakhimpur Kheri Violence : Supreme Court Rap For UP Government, Directs Them To Protect Witnesses, Next Hearing On November 8

Supreme Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to grant protection to the witnesses of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case in which eight people including four farmers were killed during a farmers’ protest.

The Court also directs that statements of witnesses be recorded expeditiously. Harish Salve told Supreme Court that the UP government can give in a sealed cover which are the statements recorded of the witnesses in the case reported PTI.

A bench headed by Chief justice N V Ramana asked the Uttar Pradesh government, represented by senior advocates Harish Salve and Garima Prasad, to record the statements of other relevant witnesses before judicial magistrates under section 164 of the CrPC.

“We direct the District judge concerned to entrust the task of recording of evidence under section 164 of the CrPC to the nearest judicial magistrates available,” said the bench which also comprised justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli.

As per report by ANI, Supreme Court asks Uttar Pradesh govt to file replies on the investigation on the killing of a journalist Raman Kashyap and one Shyam Sundar in Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

SC also asks forensic labs to expedite the process of submitting reports relating to videos of the incident.  Next hearing is November 8.