Priyanka Gandhi arrested on way to Lakhimpur Kheri

Lucknow: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was on her way to Uttar Pradesh Lakhimpur Kheri district to visit the kin of the victims of Sunday's violence was arrested from Hargaon on Monday early morning.

As per reports, Priyanka Gandhi'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 around 6.a.m on Monday, 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.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "Today's incident shows that this government is using politics to mow down farmers. This is the farmers' country, not BJP's… I'm not committing any crime by deciding to meet the victims' kin…Why are you stopping us? You should have a warrant."

Other opposition leaders are also being stopped from proceeding towards Lakhimpur Kheri after Sunday's incident, where the death toll has gone up to eight.

Congress leaders who were accompanying Priyanka created a ruckus and staged a dharna to protest against her arrest.

The Uttar Pradesh police tweeted that the situation in Lakhimpur Kheri was under control and adequate deployment of forces had been done to prevent any 'untoward incident'.

According to officials, the four farmers were killed after allegedly being hit by a convoy and four people, who were travelling in one of the vehicles, were beaten to death in Lakhimpur Kheri. The violence was reported minutes before Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya was to visit the area, they added.