The Evening Wrap: Weapon seized from Union Minister’s son was fired, says FSL report

A forensic report has confirmed that weapons recovered from Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra and others after the Lakhimpur violence had been fired. Protesting farmers had alleged that Ashish Mishra had opened fire. Though the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report confirmed that the weapons had been discharged, it does not specify whether they were fired on the day of the violence or some other day. Four weapons, including a rifle belonging to Ashish Mishra alias Monu Mishra, had been seized following the Lakhimpur violence. A pistol owned by Ankit Das, nephew of former Union Minister Akhilesh Das, and a repeater gun, which was with Das’ bodyguard Lateef Kale, were also among them. A forensic report of the fourth weapon, a revolver owned by Das’ aide Satya Prakash, is awaited. “Of the four weapons sent for ballistic examination to the FSL, it has been confirmed that firing took place from three, including Ashish Mishra’s rifle. However, the report did not confirm when the firing took place,” a senior official said in Lakhimpur. The special investigation team (SIT) probing the case is yet to issue an official statement on the FSL report. After the arrest of Ashish Mishra, Das and Kale, the SIT had recovered their licensed weapons – a rifle, pistol, revolver and a repeater gun – and sent them for forensic examination on October 15. According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered by the police on a complaint of Jagjit Singh, a native of Bahraich district, the entire episode was “premeditated” for which the “conspiracy was hatched” by the Minister and his son. The FIR stated that the farmers had gathered at the sports ground of the Maharaja Agrasen Inter-College on October 3 and they wanted to peacefully show black flags to Ashish Mishra and Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who were visiting Banbirpur. “Around 3 p.m., Ashish Mishra, along with 15-20 armed men, in three speeding four-wheelers, reached the protest spot in Banbirpur. Ashish Mishra, who was seated on the left side of a Mahindra Thar, opened gunfire. The Thar mowed down the crowd and sped ahead,” the FIR stated. “Because of the firing, farmer Gurvinder Singh, son of Sukhwinder, a resident of Matronia in Nanpara, died,” it stated. However, two successive autopsies conducted on Gurvinder Singh had ruled out bullet injuries. Ashish Mishra and 15-20 unnamed men were mentioned as accused and charged with murder, criminal conspiracy, rash driving and rioting among others. Of them, police have so far arrested 13. Minister Ajay Mishra had refuted the allegations that his son was involved in the episode that took place near his native Banbirpur village in the Tikonia area of the district. The FIR has been lodged under Indian Penal Code Sections 147, 148, 149 (all three related to rioting), 279 (rash driving), 338 (causes grievous hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life), 304A (causing death by negligence), 302 (murder) and 120B (party to a criminal conspiracy). Centre to restore MPLAD scheme The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved restoration and continuation of the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), which was suspended in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the Cabinet presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the scheme has been restored for the remaining part of financial year 2021-22. The scheme will continue till 2025-26. Funds will be released at the rate of ₹2 crore per MP for the remaining period of 2021-22 in one instalment, he said. From 2022-23 to 2025-26, funds will be released under the scheme at the rate of ₹5 crore per annum to each of the MPs in two instalments of ₹2.5 crore each, he added. In April last year, the government had suspended MPLADS during 2020-21 and 2021-22, and said that the funds would be used for managing health services and the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Under the scheme, MPs can recommend development programmes involving expenditure of ₹5 crore every year in their constituencies. India seeks greater consultation on Afghanistan India had been keenly observing the unfolding situation in Afghanistan and the time had come for close cooperation and consultation among the regional countries for the all-round security of Afghanistan, said National Security Adviser Ajit Doval addressing the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Wednesday. Russian representative Nikolai P. Patrushev said dialogue mechanisms “should not complicate” the unfolding situation in the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. “This is the third meeting of the process that was initiated by Iran in 2018. We had the second meeting there as well. We are grateful to Iran for that. We are meeting today to discuss matters related to Afghanistan. These have important implications not only for the people of Afghanistan but also for its neighbours and the region. This is a time for close consultation amongst us and greater cooperation, interaction and coordination among the regional countries,” Doval said initiating the discussion. The meeting has drawn representation by the heads of the national security establishment of all the Central Asian countries, Russia and Iran. Pakistan and China too were invited to participate in the consultation but both have stayed away. This is the first meeting of the security heads of these countries that India is hosting since the Taliban took power in August after dislodging the Government of President Ashraf Ghani. Doval is accompanied in the meeting by Samant Goel, head of the Research and Analysis Wing, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and other Indian diplomats who have been part of Afghanistan-related initiatives in recent months. Addressing the meeting after Doval, Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council of Iran, said there was a need to establish an inclusive Government in Afghanistan. “We will be able to discuss bilateral and multilateral affairs and the issues that have destroyed Afghanistan. The solution comes only through the formation of an inclusive Government with the participation of all ethnic groups,” said Shamkhani, highlighting that the meeting would help focus on the “force” that could attain that goal. Karim Massimov, Chairman of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan, highlighted the many obstacles that prevent the formation of an “effective Government” in Afghanistan. “We are strongly concerned with the appearance of the Central Asian fighters [in Afghanistan]. It’s necessary to increase humanitarian assistance for Afghan people. It is highly important to increase concrete actions,” said Massimov. Addressing the meeting, Kyrgyz Republic’s Marat Imankulov raised the possibility of terrorism spreading from the territory of Afghanistan and said “We need to extend help to the Afghan people.” Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai P. Patrushev praised the role of various regional dialogue mechanisms that had been framed to deal with the political situation in Afghanistan. However, he appeared to favour the Moscow consultation which he praised for “broad participation” by all sides. “Such dialogue mechanisms should not complicate the work of each other but rather complement each other. The Moscow format of consultation on Afghanistan retains its important potential because of the broad participation of the stakeholders,” Patrushev said, asking for stability in the region around Afghanistan. In blow to AAP, MLA joins Congress in Punjab In a setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, its Bathinda rural MLA Rupinder Kaur Ruby on Wednesday joined the Congress. Ruby said the stupendous performance of the Congress Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi during the past 50 days has been far better than that of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s Government in Delhi, prompting her to join hands with the Congress. “I am elated to join the Congress because it is the party of ‘aam adami’ in the true sense, contrary to the claim of AAP’s convener Kejriwal,” said Ruby in the presence of Channi, Congress party incharge of Punjab affairs Harish Choudhary, and State president Navjot Singh Sidhu. Ruby announced her resignation through her twitter handle on Tuesday night saying: “Mr. @ArvindKejriwalji Convener, AAP & @BhagwantMannji. This is to hereby inform u that I am resigning with immediate effect from the membership of Aam Aadmi Party. Please accept my resignation. Thx Rupinder Kaur Ruby. (MLA Bathinda, rural).” Channi said it is a matter of great pride and honour for them as Ruby has joined the party highly moved by the pro-people policies of his Government. “I compliment her on the bold step to denounce AAP which is exploiting the sentiments of common people claiming to be the party of ‘aam adami’. The people of Punjab have actually realised now that the Congress is the real party connected with the grassroots of the State and is sensitive to their problems,” he said. Leader of the Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema (AAP) said Ruby has changed her loyalties as she does not stand a chance to get re-nomination in the upcoming Assembly elections. Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stood at 3,43,88,583 at the time of publishing this newsletter, with the death toll at 4,61,836. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow. [logo] The Evening Wrap 10 NOVEMBER 2021 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Weapon seized from Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s son was fired, confirms FSL report A [forensic report has confirmed]( that weapons recovered from Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra and others after the Lakhimpur violence had been fired. Protesting farmers had alleged that Ashish Mishra had opened fire. Though the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report confirmed that the weapons had been discharged, it does not specify whether they were fired on the day of the violence or some other day. Four weapons, including a rifle belonging to Ashish Mishra alias Monu Mishra, had been seized following the Lakhimpur violence. A pistol owned by Ankit Das, nephew of former Union Minister Akhilesh Das, and a repeater gun, which was with Das’ bodyguard Lateef Kale, were also among them. A forensic report of the fourth weapon, a revolver owned by Das’ aide Satya Prakash, is awaited. [Ashish Mishra was arrested in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. File]  “Of the four weapons sent for ballistic examination to the FSL, it has been confirmed that firing took place from three, including Ashish Mishra’s rifle. However, the report did not confirm when the firing took place,” a senior official said in Lakhimpur. The special investigation team (SIT) probing the case is yet to issue an official statement on the FSL report. After the arrest of Ashish Mishra, Das and Kale, the SIT had recovered their licensed weapons – a rifle, pistol, revolver and a repeater gun – and sent them for forensic examination on October 15. According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered by the police on a complaint of Jagjit Singh, a native of Bahraich district, the entire episode was “premeditated” for which the “conspiracy was hatched” by the Minister and his son. The FIR stated that the farmers had gathered at the sports ground of the Maharaja Agrasen Inter-College on October 3 and they wanted to peacefully show black flags to Ashish Mishra and Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who were visiting Banbirpur. “Around 3 p.m., Ashish Mishra, along with 15-20 armed men, in three speeding four-wheelers, reached the protest spot in Banbirpur. Ashish Mishra, who was seated on the left side of a Mahindra Thar, opened gunfire. The Thar mowed down the crowd and sped ahead,” the FIR stated. “Because of the firing, farmer Gurvinder Singh, son of Sukhwinder, a resident of Matronia in Nanpara, died,” it stated. However, two successive autopsies conducted on Gurvinder Singh had ruled out bullet injuries. Ashish Mishra and 15-20 unnamed men were mentioned as accused and charged with murder, criminal conspiracy, rash driving and rioting among others. Of them, police have so far arrested 13. Minister Ajay Mishra had refuted the allegations that his son was involved in the episode that took place near his native Banbirpur village in the Tikonia area of the district. The FIR has been lodged under Indian Penal Code Sections 147, 148, 149 (all three related to rioting), 279 (rash driving), 338 (causes grievous hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life), 304A (causing death by negligence), 302 (murder) and 120B (party to a criminal conspiracy). [underlineimg] Centre to restore MPLAD scheme The Union Cabinet on Wednesday [approved restoration and continuation of the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)]( which was suspended in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the Cabinet presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the scheme has been restored for the remaining part of financial year 2021-22. The scheme will continue till 2025-26. Funds will be released at the rate of ₹2 crore per MP for the remaining period of 2021-22 in one instalment, he said. From 2022-23 to 2025-26, funds will be released under the scheme at the rate of ₹5 crore per annum to each of the MPs in two instalments of ₹2.5 crore each, he added. In April last year, the government had suspended MPLADS during 2020-21 and 2021-22, and said that the funds would be used for managing health services and the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Under the scheme, MPs can recommend development programmes involving expenditure of ₹5 crore every year in their constituencies. [underlineimg] India seeks greater consultation on Afghanistan India had been keenly observing the unfolding situation in Afghanistan and the time had come for close cooperation and consultation among the regional countries for the all-round security of Afghanistan, said National Security Adviser Ajit Doval [addressing the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue]( on Wednesday. Russian representative Nikolai P. Patrushev said dialogue mechanisms “should not complicate” the unfolding situation in the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. [NSA Ajit Doval with his Uzbekistan counterpart Victor Makhmudov and other dignitaries during their meeting, in New Delhi, Tuesday, November 9, 2021.]  “This is the third meeting of the process that was initiated by Iran in 2018. We had the second meeting there as well. We are grateful to Iran for that. We are meeting today to discuss matters related to Afghanistan. These have important implications not only for the people of Afghanistan but also for its neighbours and the region. This is a time for close consultation amongst us and greater cooperation, interaction and coordination among the regional countries,” Doval said initiating the discussion. The meeting has drawn representation by the heads of the national security establishment of all the Central Asian countries, Russia and Iran. Pakistan and China too were invited to participate in the consultation but both have stayed away. This is the first meeting of the security heads of these countries that India is hosting since the Taliban took power in August after dislodging the Government of President Ashraf Ghani. Doval is accompanied in the meeting by Samant Goel, head of the Research and Analysis Wing, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and other Indian diplomats who have been part of Afghanistan-related initiatives in recent months. Addressing the meeting after Doval, Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council of Iran, said there was a need to establish an inclusive Government in Afghanistan. “We will be able to discuss bilateral and multilateral affairs and the issues that have destroyed Afghanistan. The solution comes only through the formation of an inclusive Government with the participation of all ethnic groups,” said Shamkhani, highlighting that the meeting would help focus on the “force” that could attain that goal. Karim Massimov, Chairman of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan, highlighted the many obstacles that prevent the formation of an “effective Government” in Afghanistan. “We are strongly concerned with the appearance of the Central Asian fighters [in Afghanistan]. It’s necessary to increase humanitarian assistance for Afghan people. It is highly important to increase concrete actions,” said Massimov. Addressing the meeting, Kyrgyz Republic’s Marat Imankulov raised the possibility of terrorism spreading from the territory of Afghanistan and said “We need to extend help to the Afghan people.” Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai P. Patrushev praised the role of various regional dialogue mechanisms that had been framed to deal with the political situation in Afghanistan. However, he appeared to favour the Moscow consultation which he praised for “broad participation” by all sides. “Such dialogue mechanisms should not complicate the work of each other but rather complement each other. The Moscow format of consultation on Afghanistan retains its important potential because of the broad participation of the stakeholders,” Patrushev said, asking for stability in the region around Afghanistan. [underlineimg] In blow to AAP, MLA joins Congress in Punjab In a setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, its Bathinda rural MLA Rupinder Kaur Ruby on Wednesday [joined the Congress](. Ruby said the stupendous performance of the Congress Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi during the past 50 days has been far better than that of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s Government in Delhi, prompting her to join hands with the Congress. “I am elated to join the Congress because it is the party of ‘aam adami’ in the true sense, contrary to the claim of AAP’s convener Kejriwal,” said Ruby in the presence of Channi, Congress party incharge of Punjab affairs Harish Choudhary, and State president Navjot Singh Sidhu. Ruby announced her resignation through her twitter handle on Tuesday night saying: “Mr. @ArvindKejriwalji Convener, AAP & @BhagwantMannji. This is to hereby inform u that I am resigning with immediate effect from the membership of Aam Aadmi Party. Please accept my resignation. Thx Rupinder Kaur Ruby. (MLA Bathinda, rural).” Channi said it is a matter of great pride and honour for them as Ruby has joined the party highly moved by the pro-people policies of his Government. “I compliment her on the bold step to denounce AAP which is exploiting the sentiments of common people claiming to be the party of ‘aam adami’. The people of Punjab have actually realised now that the Congress is the real party connected with the grassroots of the State and is sensitive to their problems,” he said. Leader of the Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema (AAP) said Ruby has changed her loyalties as she does not stand a chance to get re-nomination in the upcoming Assembly elections. [underlineimg] Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments The [number of reported coronavirus cases from India]( stood at 3,43,88,583 at the time of publishing this newsletter, with the death toll at 4,61,836.  [underlineimg] Evening Wrap will return tomorrow.  Today's Top Picks [[Tamil Nadu rain updates | November 10, 2021] Tamil Nadu rain updates | November 10, 2021]( [[Explained | Can Elon Musk’s wealth really end world hunger?] Explained | Can Elon Musk’s wealth really end world hunger?]( [[Why is Ethiopia at war again? | In Focus podcast] Why is Ethiopia at war again? | In Focus podcast]( [[Watch | Does Bitcoin have a future in India?] Watch | Does Bitcoin have a future in India?]( Copyright @ 2021, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. If you are facing any trouble in viewing this newsletter, please [try here]( If you do not wish to receive such emails [go here](