The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to grant protection to the witnesses of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case where eight people lost their lives during a farmers’ protest.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana asked the Uttar Pradesh government, represented by senior advocates Harish Salve and Garima Prasad, to record the statements of other relevant witnesses before judicial magistrates under Section 164 of the CrPC.

The Uttar Pradesh govt told the Supreme Court that statements of several witnesses are yet to be recorded. Out of 68 witnesses, just 20 witnesses came forward and recorded their statement.

When the CJI said how can there be just 23 people in the rally, Salve said: “We had issued an ad and only these people had come forward. It was a big group. The people, who were trying to see what happened, have come forward.”

“There was a crowd of 4,000-5,000 people who are all locals. Most of them were agitating even after the incident. This is what has been reported. All of them are serious witnesses. The identification of these people should not be a problem,” the bench said.

“We direct the District judge concerned to entrust the task of recording evidence under Section 164 of the CrPC to the nearest judicial magistrates available,” said the bench, which also comprised justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli.

Salve also asked the Supreme Court to adjourn the Lakhimpur Kheri matter to after Diwali break to allow the checking of the electronic evidence.

The bench asked Salve to convey its concerns to forensic labs and experts on preparation of reports on electronic evidence of the incident.

The top court, meanwhile, asked the state government to also file its report on two complaints, including the one related to the lynching of a journalist.

“The state is directed to file separate replies in the cases,” the bench said and fixed the plea for further hearing on November 8.

Observing that the probe into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence should not be an “unending story”, the Supreme Court on October 20 had rapped the government, saying the court was getting the impression that the state police was dragging its feet, and also ordered the protection of witnesses.