Lakhimpur violence: Farmer leader demands dismissal of Minister, arrest of son

Lakhimpur Kheri: The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait demanded Ajay Mishra's (Minister of State for Home) resignation and his son's arrest for the death of farmers during a protest here in Uttar Pradesh, PTI reported.

At a press conference, Tikait also demanded one crore rupees compensation and a government job for the family members of the deceased. He said that the cremation of victims would be done only after their demands were met.

On Sunday, eight people were killed after violence erupted during a farmers' protest in Lakhimpur, which claimed the lives of farmers and BJP workers ahead of a visit by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.

Officials said that four of the dead were BJP workers, part of a convoy that came to welcome the UP minister, and the other four were farmers. The BJP workers were allegedly thrashed to death.

Farmer leaders alleged that the minister's son Ashish Mishra's car, who was in the BJP envoy, knocked down some of the protesters opposing deputy CM's visit. They also alleged that Ashish Mishra opened fire at the protesting farmers.

But Ajay Mishra said that neither he nor his son was at the spot. He has photos and videos as evidence to prove it, he said.

When asked about certain comments made by Ajay Mishra in videos that surfaced on social media, Tikait said that atmosphere in the region was being vitiated during the last ten days.

Officials said that mobile internet services were suspended in parts of the district where the violence happened, and section 144 was imposed. UP police tweeted that the incident was unfortunate. ADG LO, ACS Agriculture, IG Range & Commissioner are on the spot. Police said that adequate deployment had been done to quell further untoward incidents, and the situation is under control.