Terror attack on #FarmersProtest “pre-planned”

The Lakhimpur Kheri terror attack which saw four Sikh men killed by a BJP Party affiliate was a “pre-planned conspiracy” according to a Supreme Court appointed investigation team.

The attack in early October saw the son of an Indian MP used a jeep to mow down dozens of attendees of a #FarmersProtest in Lakhimpur Kheri (Uttar Pradesh, India), killing at least nine – including four Sikh men, three BJP workers, a reporting journalist and a driver – and leaving more injured. Read more on the incident here.

The investigation team probing the terror attack have released a statement which said “the criminal act was deliberately done with the intention of killing as per a pre-planned conspiracy”. The statement was released to Indian media and is seen as a reflection of the obviousness of what occurred, given Ashish Mishra was waiting in his car whilst the protesters gathered, before driving it through the crowds. The statement will be welcomed by those contesting reports which were contrary to the many eye-witnesses, by claiming the BJP convoy vehicles sped through as a result of crowds attacking them. Claims the BJP workers and a journalist were killed by the crowds were also countered by many eye-witnesses, he saw the workers die as a result of the jeep speeding through crowds. Witnesses also reported hearing gunfire and there are claims the journalist killed on the scene – Rasham Kashyap – was seen being shot by Ashish Mishra.

The terror attack was reported by some western media outlet as violent clashes, regurgitating the Indian state media narrative to whitewash the massacre of peaceful protesters. Since the attack, a typically delayed response from Indian authorities saw Ashish Mishra, the son of Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra, arrested nearly a week after dozens of eye-witnesses saw him carry out the terror attack by driving a jeep through crowds of #FarmersProtest demonstration. Ashish has now been booked with charges of murder for which he will face trial. However, the Indian judicial system’s notorious delays are likely to be used to allow Ashish to be free for a prolonged period yet, as trial hearings are arranged and carried out. The same delays are weaponised against the likes of Jagtar Singh Johal, British Sikh detained in India for four years without trial.

Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh spoke on the terror attack and the recent update, saying “The Lakhimpur Kheri terror attack is one of the most brazen killings of Sikhs and #FarmersProtest supporters seen in recent history. What happened is obvious and was seen by dozens, so it is only right any investigation reflects this. However, we hope western media outlets will also carry this part of the story, with many having covered it previously in an inaccurate way which only covered up for the state linked terror attack.”

Updates on the criminal investigation into the terror attacks continue.