SIT chief probing Lakhimpur Kheri violence transferred, will continue to head probe

Lucknow, October 22

The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday transferred DIG Upendra Kumar Agarwal, heading the SIT probing into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, to Gonda but will continue to supervise the investigation.

While transferring Agarwal to Gonda from the UP PHQ, the state police headquarters made it clear that it was a routine exercise and he will continue to head the Special Investigation Team set up to probe into the October 3 Lakhimpur Kheri violence in which eight people, including four farmers, were killed.

Agarwal is a 2005-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre.

As per the UP PHQ's transfer notification, five other IPS officers have been given new postings as well.

When asked about Agarwal's transfer, UP Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar told PTI that he will continue to lead the SIT team investigating the Lakhimpur Kheri case.

Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra was arrested by the SIT after 12 hours of grilling on October 9. Besides the minister's son, 10 others too have been arrested in this case so far.

After an intensive and extensive, nine hours of questioning, DIG Agarwal had on October 9 said Ashish Mishra has been arrested for not cooperating in the investigation and making evasive replies to police queries.

An FIR was lodged at the Tikonia police station on October 3 over the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

Besides, Agarwal five other officers who have been transferred include Ayodhya IG Sanjeev Gupta who has been posted as IG (Law and Order) with Allahabad IG K P Singh taking over his place in the temple town.

Singh's place as Allahabad IG was taken over by Rakesh Singh.

Basti IG Anil Kumar Rai has been transferred to Central Zone's PAC with IG (Law and Order) Modak Rozas taking his place in Basti. — PTI