A day after eight people were killed in violence during a farm protest in UP's Lakhimpur Kheri, a murder case has been filed against junior Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni's son Ashish Mishra. The minister, too, has been booked for criminal conspiracy. A deadlock between protesting farmers, who refused to cremate the bodies of those who died on Sunday, and the administration was resolved afternoon after a meeting. The government has promised a judicial inquiry headed by a former high court judge, compensation of Rs 45,00,000h each to the kin of the dead and a government job each for the bereaved families.
ADG (law and order) Prashant Kumar said, "Eight deaths have been confirmed, including that of a journalist. Cross FIRs have been registered at Tikunia police station (under whose jurisdiction the violence took place on Sunday). One by farmers’ families against Ajay Mishra for criminal conspiracy and Ashish Mishra for murder, causing death by negligence and criminal conspiracy. The second was lodged by the family of the driver who was killed, against unidentified persons, for rioting."
Farmers took action in self-defence
Bharatiya Sikh Sangathan president Jasbir Singh Virk, however, disputed the numbers. “Two men were beaten to death by protesters,” he said. “Those people had opened fire on farmers. In self-defence, the farmers took action. They were protesting peacefully. There was no intention to kill anyone.” Prohibitory orders have been in place in the district since Sunday night. Internet services remain suspended. Political representatives who tried to visit the village on Monday could not. They were either detained, stopped or prevented from landing in Lucknow.
Priyanka Gandhi arrested
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been arrested from Hargaon in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district while she was on her way to Lakhimpur Kheri. Other opposition leaders are also being stopped from proceeding towards Lakhimpur Kheri after Sunday's incident. Priyanka's convoy was stopped in Lucknow and the police surrounded the Kaul House where she stays during her Lucknow visits. However, Priyanka managed to hoodwink the cops and walked out of her residence form the side gate and after a short distance, she got into a waiting car and left for Lakhimpur Kheri with Congress leader Deependra Singh Hooda at the wheel.
As soon as Priyanka reached Hargaon in Sitapur district, she was stopped. After a minor scuffle with women constable, Priyanka demanded to see her arrest warrant. The police personnel took her into custody and she was taken to the PAC office in the district.
Eight people were killed on Sunday as violence erupted during a farmers' protest, claiming the lives of both farmers and BJP workers ahead of a visit to Lakhimpur by Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, officials said. Two SUVs were set on fire by angry farmers in the clash near Banbirpur in Lakhimpur Kheri. Four of the victims were people in the cars - reportedly a part of the group of BJP workers that had come to welcome the minister - who were thrashed to death by the protesters, according to officials. The four others were farmers, they said.
Farmer leaders claimed that at last one of the vehicles knocked down some farmers protesting over the contentious farm laws enacted at the Centre. But, according to an official account, the vehicle overturned when farmers hurled stones at it. The violence triggered outburst with opposition parties blaming the state government for the deaths.
