Despite a Supreme Court notice to protect Lakhimpur Kheri violence witnesses, Rampur’s Hardeep Singh survived an alleged attack on April 11, 2022 night. He is the second key witness to undergo such an ordeal after the Uttar Pradesh elections and bail of main accused Ashish Mishra.
Singh was among those peacefully protesting farmers who were present when Ashish Mishra’s vehicle allegedly mowed down protesters in Tikonia village on October 3, 2021 in Lakhimpur Kheri. As many as eight people died during the incident that was dubbed a “pre-planned” attack by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The prime-accused is Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s son, and was arrested after many protests. However, he received bail amidst UP elections.
Since then, witnesses have told SabrangIndia that they are apprehensive of attacks by the ruling regime or sympathisers of Mishra. Singh recounted on Monday how Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) District Secretary Mehar Singh Dayol, BJP member Saranbjeet Singh and three others allegedly hit his head with the butt of his licensed gun.
Singh was returning from Bilaspur with his friend when the accused stopped them and threatened Singh and his family members. Verbally abusing him, Dayol allegedly told Singh to withdraw his name from the witness list. According to the victim, the BJP official had previously made similar threats as well.
“He said to me “This time I’m only hitting you with the butt of the gun. If you give your statement in Lakhimpur Court then I’ll shoot you.” After that, people gathered and they ran away,” said Hardeep in his complaint letter.
Despite expressing an answer towards the accused, Singh said that the police cooperated with him and his family. The CO, SHO and a Rampur team even visited the area, Singh told SabrangIndia. However, he is yet to receive the FIR statement that acknowledges tha complaint under attempt to murder. “There should be an investigation against them. My friend who lives nearby is also a witness. If nothing is done, even he is in danger,” Singh told SabrangIndia.
The first witness to be attacked was Diljot Singh who was assaulted on the intervening night of March 10 and March 11. Unlike Hardeep, Diljot had a security guard with him when he delivered sugarcane. Still, 10 goons allegedly stopped his tractor, distracted the guard and beat the farmer with belts before tearing his clothes.
Moreover, SKM’s legal cell informed that the police registered an FIR only after pressure from the people. This despite the accused being known people yet again. At the time, the SKM feared that such cases would increase.
After Diljot’s ordeal, the Supreme Court ordered the state government to provide security to Lakhimpur Kheri violence witnesses. Far from receiving any intimation on this, Hardeep now nurses the bruises on his head and eyes.
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