Lucknow | 11th March, 2026.
Citizens, students, and representatives of several social organisations gathered today at Parivartan Chowk in Lucknow to hold a protest and call for what they described as a fair, transparent, and impartial investigation into the death of 13-year-old Unaiz Khan.
Among those present at the protest were Roop Rekha Verma (Sajhi Duniya), Madhu Garg (AIDWA), Sarojini Bisht and Meena Singh (AIPWA), Kanti Mishra (Mahila Federation), Group Captain Dinesh Chandra (Retd.), Humanity Association, Farzana Mehdi and Suchit Mathur (Jan Sanskriti Manch), Ahmad Raza Khan (student, University of Lucknow), Shantam Nidhi (AISA), Shubham Ahake (BAPSA, BBAU), Namrata Gautam (People for Caste Annihilation), Sounyajit Bhattacharya, Harsh Tirthani, Sunny Singh and Karuna Nidan (AISF), and Deepankar (BSM), along with several other citizens.
Speakers at the protest stated that the death of a young child had deeply shaken many people and had raised concerns among sections of the public regarding the direction and transparency of the ongoing investigation. Some speakers also expressed apprehension that the investigation should remain free from any external influence and proceed strictly according to legal procedures.
Participants at the gathering further stated that early references to the incident as an “accidental firing,” prior to the completion of a detailed investigation, had raised questions among protestors. They also noted that the alleged main accused, Sanjeev Tripathi, named in the FIR had not yet been arrested, and they called for clarity regarding the investigative process.
During the protest, a memorandum addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Lucknow Police Commissionerate, was submitted. The memorandum raised several questions related to the investigation, including concerns about access to the victim at the hospital, the circumstances under which the incident was initially described as accidental firing, and the status of action taken against those named in the FIR.
Through the memorandum, the citizens and organisations demanded the arrest of individuals named in the FIR following due legal process, the public release of post-mortem and forensic reports once available, and the preservation and submission of all relevant CCTV footage related to the incident. They also called for accountability in the event that any procedural lapses are established and suggested that the investigation could be reviewed by an independent agency or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure impartiality.
Speakers emphasised that the death of a child is an extremely serious matter and stated that institutions must act with transparency, responsibility, and accountability. They said that the protest was aimed at ensuring justice for Unaiz Khan and strengthening public trust in the rule of law.
Participants added that members of civil society would continue to raise their concerns through peaceful and democratic means while awaiting further developments in the investigation.