Lakhimpur Kheri Violence: Union MoS Ajay Misra Claims ‘My Son Wasn’t Present’, Death Count Mounts To Eight

He added that some miscreants from the agitating farmers pelted stones on the car, which led to the incident.

Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Misra | File Photo

New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Misra on Sunday claimed that his son was not present at the spot after the farmer leaders alleged that his son was in one of the SUVs which allegedly ran over the protesters in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri. He added that some miscreants from the agitating farmers pelted stones on the car, which led to the incident.

The clarification comes as violence broke out after two SUVs allegedly ran over a group of anti-farm law protesters who were demonstrating against the visit of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya at Tikonia-Banbirpur road on Sunday.

Additional Superintendent of Police Arun Kumar Singh informed that eight people have so far died in the incident, ANI reported.

READ: Five Farmers Die, Several Injured After Violence Erupts In UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri. Congress Corners Modi Govt

“My son wasn’t present at the spot. There were miscreants, who attacked the workers with sticks and swords. If my son would have been there, he wouldn't have come out alive,” Misra told ANI in a telephonic conversation.

“They have killed people and damaged and set the cars on fire. We have video evidence,” he added.

The Union Minister of State for Home said “our workers came to receive us amid farmers’ protest” during Lakhimpur Kheri visit.

“Some miscreants from the agitating farmers started stone pelting on the car and injured our driver,” he added.

#WATCH | "They were miscreants among the farmers. Since the beginning of the farmers' agitation, many terror outfits including Babbar Khalsa are trying to create chaotic situation. This incident was a result of the same," says MoS Home Ajay Mishra Teni

(Source: Self-made video) pic.twitter.com/6CTpz4M49f

— ANI (@ANI) October 3, 2021

Misra further said “three of our workers and a driver were killed”, adding the “cars were set on fire in Lakhimpur Kheri”.

“Due to this, our car got imbalanced and two people died coming under it. After this, our three workers were killed and cars were set on fire,” Misra said.

“We are going to get the FIR registered. We have video (evidence). A case under Section 302 to be registered against those involved and action will be taken,” he added.

UP CM Adityanath Terms Incident As 'Unfortunate'

UP CM Yogi Adityanath has termed the violence as “sad and unfortunate”.

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister took to Twitter and wrote: “The incident in Lakhimpur Kheri district is very sad and unfortunate. UP Govt will go to the bottom of the case and expose the elements involved in the incident and take strict action against the culprits”.

जनपद लखीमपुर खीरी में घटित हुई घटना अत्यंत दुःखद एवं दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है। @UPGovt इस घटना के कारणों की तह में जाएगी तथा घटना में शामिल तत्वों को बेनकाब करेगी व दोषियों के विरुद्ध सख्त कार्रवाई करेगी।

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) October 3, 2021

He appealed to the people to not be misled and urged them to contribute towards maintaining peace and order on the spot. "Wait for the investigation and action before arriving at any conclusion," he wrote in another tweet.

क्षेत्र के सभी लोगों से अपील है कि वे किसी के बहकावे में न आएं व मौके पर शान्ति-व्यवस्था कायम रखने में अपना योगदान दें। किसी प्रकार के निष्कर्ष पर पहुंचने से पहले मौके पर हो रही जांच तथा कार्यवाही का इन्तजार करें।

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) October 3, 2021

Farmer Leaders Demand Action

The farmer leaders Yogendra Yadav and Darshan Pal Singh on Sunday demanded that Union Minister of State for Home and Khiri MP Ajay Misra be immediately dismissed from his post.

“A case under Section 302 (punishment for murder) of the IPC should be registered against the minister's son and other goons,” they said at a virtual press conference.

They also demanded a probe into the incident by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court and not by the Uttar Pradesh administration.

“To express our agitation against Sunday's incident, the SKM calls for a protest outside the offices of district magistrates and divisional commissioners across the country between 10 am and 1 pm,” Singh said, PTI reported.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a united forum of farmer unions protesting the three farm laws, and the Bharatiya Kisan Union asked the farmers to gather in Lakhimpur Kheri post the incident.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha claimed that one of the three farmers was shot dead by the Union Minister’s son, while the others have been allegedly run over by vehicles in Lakhimpur Kheri.

Meanwhile, as opposition parties and farmers' organsiations corner the government over the issue, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will visit the area on Monday.