On Sunday, at least eight people were killed, including four farmers, after the farmers' protest became violent in Lakhimpur Kheri district, approximately 130 kilometers from Uttar Pradesh's capital. According to reports, approximately 15 people were injured in the incident.
Arun Kumar Singh, Additional SP, Lakhimpur Kheri, said, "Eight people including four farmers and four occupants of the vehicles which allegedly ran over them, died in the incident today in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri”.
According to official sources, the demonstration over the three disputed farm laws turned violent in Tikunia area of Nighasan locality on Sunday morning, where farmers had been opposing the visit of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya.
Ajay Mishra had organized an event at Banvari village in which Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya was required to participate.
Farmers' organizations said that two of the protestors were driven over by a car in the Union minister's motorcade. They said that the vehicle belonged to Mishra's son.
In response to the claims, Ajay Mishra stated that his son was not driving the vehicle that hit the protesting farmers. Mishra stated that his son was not even present at the time of the incident.
According to him, "anti-social elements" among the protesters threw stones at his vehicle, causing it to collapse and crush two farmers underneath. He went on to say that the entire incident was a "conspiracy" and that "anti-social elements cloaked themselves as farmers" in order to cause a commotion at the demonstration.
Akhilesh Yadav, President of the Samajwadi Party (SP), strongly criticized the incident and asked that a murder case be filed against Union Minister Ashish Mishra's son. The SP chairman also demanded that the Chief Minister resign. On Monday, a party delegation would travel to Lakhimpur Kheri.
