On Sunday, eight people, including four farmers, were killed when violence broke out in India’s Uttar Pradesh after a convoy of cars linked to a federal minister’s son ran over a group of farmers protesting against farm laws, according to local media reports.
Farmers’ group said that the son of India’s Deputy Home Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra was in one of the cars involved in the accident in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh.
However, Mishra has rejected the claim.
In subsequent violence, three members of the governing Bharatiya Janata Party, a driver and two other farmers were killed, according to party and officials.
Farmers were holding protests in Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday morning against the visit of Mishra and Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. Both are members of the BJP, Al Jazeera reported.
On Monday, the police registered a case of murder and rioting against the son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni, Ashish Mishra and 13 others after violence erupted during a farmers’ protest in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur, News 18 reported.
I strongly condemn the barbaric incident in Lakhimpur Kheri. The apathy of @BJP4India towards our farmer brethren pains me deeply.
A delegation of 5 @AITCofficial MPs will be visiting the families of the victims tomorrow. Our farmers will always have our unconditional support.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) October 3, 2021
Meanwhile, senior political leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party’s general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra and others were put under house arrest on Sunday late night.
The police have invoked the sections of 302 (murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 147 (rioting) of the IPC over the Lakhimpur violence.
Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait has met the District Magistrate and SP and has put four major demands in front of the administration, News 18 reported.
The farmers have demanded that Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni be suspended from his post, immediate arrest of his son Ashish Mishra, an ex-gratia of 1 crore for the families of those who were killed and a government job to the kin of the deceased.
Farmers in Haryana’s Ambala took out rally to pay tribute to Shaheeds of Lakhimpur Kheri and to protest against violence against farmers.#लखीमपुर_किसान_नरसंहार
— Amit Mishra (@Amitjanhit) October 3, 2021
However, the Uttar Pradesh government on Monday announced Rs 45 lakh compensation to families of farmers who were killed in the violence unleashed by BJP men and Union minister Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra.
The state has also announced that a retired High Court judge will probe the incident.
This has come after a countrywide protest of farmers and Opposition parties against the violence against farmers, Maktoob Media reported.
After the violent incident in Lakhimpur Kheri, Priyanka Gandhi, who was on her way to Lakhimpur Kheri late, on Sunday evening, was stopped by the police in Sitapur.
DM Vishal Bhardwaj and SP RP Singh reached Khairabad toll plaza with heavy police and PAC force as soon as Gandhi crossed the Itaunja toll.
The administration also blocked the road by putting up trucks on all lines at the toll barrier and took Gandhi into custody from Hargaon.
Two SUVs were set on fire by angry farmers after they hit a group of protesters while protesting. Four of the dead were travelling in the vehicles, a UP government official said in Lucknow.
Meanwhile, the authorities have temporarily suspended internet services and deployed additional forces to maintain law and order in the area, News 18 reported.
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