Lakhimpur Kheri violence as 8 dies, Minister says hit by stone and lost balance

Lakhimpur Kheri (Uttar Pradesh): On October 3 the Farmers protest took an ugly turn when at least six people were killed and 15 injured in violence that broke out here on Sunday during farmers' protests over the visit of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. Administrative sources gave this information.

Few farmers were also run over by a vehicle, kicking 1 and injuring others. After two SUV vehicles allegedly hit the protesters, angry farmers torched two SUVs. According to sources, four of the dead were travelling in vehicles while two others were farmers. Violence broke out after two SUVs allegedly collided with a group of anti-agriculture law protesters protesting against the visit of Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on the Tikona-Banbirpur road.

#WATCH | "Three of our workers & a driver were killed & cars were set on fire in Lakhimpur Kheri. We're going to get FIR registered. We've video. Case u/s 302 to be registered against those involved & action will be taken,"says MoS Home Ajay Mishra Teni

(Source: Self-made video) pic.twitter.com/rHUZ3p3sX2

— ANI (@ANI) October 3, 2021

Angered by the mob lynching of the protesters, the people allegedly forcibly stopped two vehicles and set them on fire. They have also allegedly thrashed some passengers.

The farmers were protesting Maurya's visit to Banbirpur, which is the native village of Union Minister of State for Home and Kheri MP Ajay Kumar Mishra. Some journalists are also reported to have been injured in this incident. Meanwhile, Maurya's visit to Banbirpur village has been cancelled in view of the violence. The United Kisan Morcha, which is leading the farmers' agitation across the country against the agriculture laws of the Centre, has demanded that the investigation of the incident in Lakhimpur Kheri should be done by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court and not by the Uttar Pradesh administration.

Till now 8 people have died due to the incident as reported by ANI

Eight persons have died in Lakhimpur incident, says Additional SP Arun Kumar Singh

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 3, 2021

UP CM Yogi Adityananth said that Lakhimpur incident is unfortunate. The state government will go into depth and expose elements involved in the incident and will take strict action against them: UP Govt

UP CM Yogi Adityananth says that Lakhimpur incident is unfortunate. The state government will go into depth and expose elements involved in the incident and will take strict action against them: UP Govt pic.twitter.com/bGgNldG2Te

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 3, 2021

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra told a channel that some workers were going to receive Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who was coming to attend the programme. He told that on the way, farmers protesting in Tikunia pelted stones on the car of the workers, due to which the vehicle overturned. He told PTI that three BJP workers and a driver were killed in the beating of "some elements involved in farmers' protest" in Lakhimpur Kheri. He said that BJP workers' car was pelted with stones due to which it overturned, due to which two people died after which BJP workers were beaten to death. He said that his son had no involvement in the incident.

The Minister of State for Home claimed, “It was not the workers but the farmers who attacked the workers. There were also some chaotic elements in the form of farmers. He himself has done the incident. The matter will be investigated in an impartial manner." Akhilesh Yadav, president of the Samajwadi Party and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, tweeted, "It is a very inhuman cruel act to trample the farmers peacefully protesting against the agriculture laws by the son of the minister of state for home in the BJP government." Yadav demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister in a tweet regarding the incident. He tweeted, "Just had a brief conversation with Tejinder Singh Virk ji, who was seriously injured in the incident of being trampled by BJP workers in Lakhimpur Kheri, in view of his very serious condition, the government should provide him the best treatment." '

कृषि कानूनों का शांतिपूर्ण विरोध कर रहे किसानों को भाजपा सरकार के गृह राज्यमंत्री के पुत्र द्वारा, गाड़ी से रौंदना घोर अमानवीय और क्रूर कृत्य है।

उप्र दंभी भाजपाइयों का ज़ुल्म अब और नहीं सहेगा।

यही हाल रहा तो उप्र में भाजपाई न गाड़ी से चल पाएंगे, न उतर पाएंगे। pic.twitter.com/huX8ZUQO08

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) October 3, 2021

Akhilesh further wrote, "Just one demand, the Chief Minister should resign." BSP President and former Chief Minister of the state Mayawati tweeted and said, "Farmers agitating for the return of three agricultural laws in Lakhimpur Kheri district of UP. But the killing of several farmers, allegedly by the son of a Union Minister, was very sad. It shows the dictatorship and cruelty of the BJP government which is also their real face." He said, “Even with respect to this incident, the victims are not expected to get proper justice from the government. Therefore, the Hon'ble Supreme Court should take cognizance of this sad incident itself, this demand of BSP. Also, the local delegation of BSP has also been directed to visit the spot.

The Bharatiya Kisan Union tweeted and claimed, “Farmers agitating in Lakhimpur Kheri were trampled by the son of Minister of State for Home, Teni, three farmers were killed, Tejendra Singh Virk was also injured. Rakesh Tikait is leaving from Ghazipur." Rashtriya Lok Dal President Jayant Choudhary tweeted, “Shocking news coming from Lakhimpur Kheri. Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra's convoy was mounted on the agitating farmers. Two farmers have died and many are injured." Choudhary further wrote, "Who has done the black act of suppressing the protest, when the Home Minister is hatching a conspiracy, then who is safe."

Here, the opposition parties have made their announcement to go to Lakhimpur. According to Samajwadi Party, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav will visit Lakhimpur Kheri on Monday while Congress general secretary and in-charge of Uttar Pradesh affairs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is also reported to be there on Monday. Uttar Pradesh Congress media convener Lalan Kumar told that party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will go to Lakhimpur Kheri on Monday morning and meet the aggrieved farmers. Priyanka will reach Lucknow late tonight.