UP: Four including a BJP leader, arrested in Lakhimpur Kheri violence

SIT in a statement said that it has arrested Sumit Jaiswal alias Modi along with his accomplices Nandan, Shishupal and one other person.

"Accused Sumit Jaiswal, Shishupal, Nandan Singh Bisht and Satya Prakash Tripathi have been arrested by Lakhimpur Kheri Police and SWAT team of Crime branch. Licensed revolver and three bullets were recovered from Satya Prakash Tripathi and seized," said a police statement.

The Lakhimpur Kheri violence earlier this month left eight people, including four farmers and a journalist killed.

Local BJP leader Sumit Jaiswal, who was seen in a video leaving the SUV, had earlier filed a murder FIR against unnamed farmers, claiming his driver, friend and two BJP workers were beaten to death and that he found out from social media later.

In the video, Jaiswal was seen running from the Thar SUV that drove into protesters from behind.

With the arrest of these 4 people, the total number of arrests made so far in the case has gone up to 10.

Earlier the police had arrested Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra and his friend Ankit Das along with his gunner, who were traveling in another vehicle behind the jeep which rammed into the farmers crushing them.

According to sources, Sumit, who was arrested on Monday, was riding in the same Thar jeep which had crushed the farmers. Somebody made a video of him while running away from the jeep, which later went viral.

After the death of the driver and others in the jeep, it is believed that Sumit Jaiswal is the only eyewitness in the case who was present in the jeep at that time.

Meanwhile, SIT had summoned several farmers who were present on the spot on that fateful day to record their statements.