October 3, 2025, marks four years since one of the darkest chapters in India’s farmers’ movement—the Lakhimpur Kheri violence that claimed eight lives, including four farmers who were allegedly mowed down by vehicles while peacefully protesting. As we remember those who lost their lives, the question that haunts their families and supporters remains: Has justice been served?
On October 3, 2021, in the Tikunia area of Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh, farmers had gathered to protest against the then-controversial farm laws. According to witness accounts and the FIR filed by the Uttar Pradesh police, Ashish Mishra, son of then-Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni, was allegedly driving a car in his father’s convoy that ran over four protesting farmers, leading to their deaths. Lakhimpur Kheri Case 2025. The violence didn’t end there. A total of eight people died in the incident—four farmers who were part of the protest, a journalist, the driver of the vehicle, and two BJP workers. The tragedy sent shockwaves across the nation and intensified the already charged atmosphere surrounding the farmers’ protests.
The four farmers who lost their lives were ordinary citizens exercising their democratic right to protest. They were sons, fathers, and brothers whose families had hoped they would return home that evening. Instead, their loved ones were left with grief, trauma, and an unending quest for justice. Their sacrifice became a rallying point for the farmers’ movement, symbolising the risks faced by those who dare to stand up for their rights.
Ashish Mishra appeared for questioning before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) six days after the incidents and was arrested on October 9, 2021. Three more people were also arrested, and on October 12, he was taken to the violence site for reconstruction of the events. The Supreme Court took cognisance of the matter, and on November 17, 2021, appointed Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain, a retired judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, to monitor the investigation, directing that it be conducted in a time-bound manner.
Despite the severity of the charges, interim regular bail was granted to Ashish Mishra on January 25, 2023, subject to various conditions, including that he shall not stay in Uttar Pradesh or NCT of Delhi during the interim bail period. This decision was met with outrage from the victims’ families and farmer unions, who saw it as a denial of justice. The bail has been extended multiple times, and as recently as March 2025, the Supreme Court refused to cancel Ashish Mishra’s bail despite allegations that witnesses were being threatened. Victims approached the court challenging the bail because the accused was influencing an eyewitness in violation of his bail conditions.
Four years after the tragedy, the trial is ongoing, and no final verdict has been reached. The case remains highly sensitive and politically charged, with various parties presenting conflicting narratives. Ashish Mishra faces charges of murder, criminal conspiracy, tampering with evidence, and other offenses. lexpartem.com Yet the wheels of justice continue to turn slowly, leaving the victims’ families in a state of perpetual waiting.
For the families of the deceased farmers, these four years have been an agonizing journey through a legal system that seems stacked against them. The fact that the main accused has been out on bail for over two years, allegedly violating bail conditions without consequences, has added salt to their wounds.With each passing year, memories fade, witnesses become harder to trace, and physical evidence deteriorates. The longer the trial drags on, the harder it becomes to establish the truth beyond reasonable doubt.
Psychological Trauma: The families of the victims live in constant anguish, reliving the tragedy with each court hearing while watching the accused move freely. This prolonged uncertainty takes a severe toll on their mental health and well-being.
The perceived inability or unwillingness of the justice system to deliver timely verdicts erodes public faith in democratic institutions, particularly among marginalized communities like farmers who already feel underrepresented. The involvement of a Union Minister’s son has raised questions about whether political influence is hampering the investigation and trial. This perception, whether accurate or not, damages the credibility of the justice system.
Farmer unions have observed the anniversary of the violence, marking it as a day to remember the victims and continue demanding justice. Two years of Lakhimpur Kheri violence but justice eludes victims These commemorations serve multiple purposes—they honor the memory of those who died, keep public attention focused on the case, and demonstrate that the farming community has not forgotten or forgiven.The martyrs of Lakhimpur Kheri have become symbols in the larger narrative of farmers’ rights in India. Their deaths represent not just a single incident of violence but a pattern of alleged suppression and marginalization that farming communities feel they face.
Critics argue that the case demonstrates how the privileged and politically connected receive preferential treatment, with easier access to bail and fewer restrictions on their freedom during trial.
Witness Intimidation: Allegations of witness tampering and intimidation, if proven, point to serious flaws in witness protection mechanisms, especially in politically sensitive cases. The four-year wait for a verdict reflects broader issues with India’s overburdened judicial system, where cases can drag on for decades. The case raises questions about holding public servants and their families accountable when they are accused of serious crimes.
The court must fast-track proceedings to ensure justice isn’t indefinitely delayed, which amounts to justice denied. Robust mechanisms must be put in place to protect witnesses from intimidation and ensure they can testify freely without fear. Continued supervision by higher courts is essential to maintain public confidence in the process.If bail conditions are being violated, appropriate action must be taken regardless of the accused’s background or connections.
Four years after the Lakhimpur Kheri tragedy, the martyred farmers deserve more than remembrance—they deserve justice. Their families deserve closure. The nation deserves to see that the rule of law applies equally to all, regardless of power or privilege. The farmers who died on October 3, 2021, were exercising their fundamental democratic rights. Their deaths should not be in vain. As we pay tribute to their memory, we must also renew our commitment to ensuring that the truth emerges, that the guilty are held accountable, and that such tragedies are never repeated.
Until a final verdict is delivered and justice is truly served, the ghosts of Lakhimpur Kheri will continue to haunt India’s conscience, serving as a reminder of promises unfulfilled and a system that often moves too slowly for those who need it most urgently. The martyrs may be gone, but their cause—the cause of justice—must live on.
“Justice delayed is justice denied” has never rung more true than in the case of Lakhimpur Kheri. Four years is too long for families to wait. It’s time for the system to deliver what it has promised: justice, truth, and accountability.