In a significant turn in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, the Allahabad High Court has granted bail to 12 individuals involved, noting the lengthy judicial process and unlikely conclusion of the trial anytime soon. The accused, initially granted interim bail last year, now join Ashish Mishra, the case’s central figure, who is already on bail.
Justice Krishan Pahal acknowledged that the violence in question saw actions from both sides, with no restraint observed. The judge highlighted that a substantial number of witnesses still need examination, meaning a prolonged path before any conclusion is reached. Notably, the 12 newly bailed individuals weren’t named in the original FIR, placing them in a less severe position than Mishra.
The court underscored the principle of bail as a means to ensure an accused’s presence during trial, with no evidence suggesting any risk of flight or interference with the legal process. This ruling comes in a case that has drawn national attention, stemming from the 2021 incident in Lakhimpur Kheri where farmers, a journalist, and several others lost their lives during protests against now-revoked farm laws.
With these recent developments, legal representatives remain divided, reflecting the case’s complexity and its impact on the region’s social and political climate.
