2 SUVs run over protesting farmers, violence erupts in UP's Lakhimpur Kheri

Violence broke out after two SUVs belonging to a minister’s convoy 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 here on Sunday.

Unconfirmed reports said that a number of farmers were seriously injured in the incident. One person has reportedly died.

According to NDTV, the medical officer of the district hospital in Lakhimpur Kheri confirmed two deaths and one person with severe injuries. “No postmortem has been conducted.”

Angry protesters allegedly forced the two vehicles to stop and set them on fire. They also allegedly thrashed some passengers.

A medical officer at the Lakhimpur dist hospital in UP confirms two farmers brought dead and one seriously injured after the events earlier where the son of MoS Ajay Mishra and his aides allegedly ran over protesting farmers in the district earlier today as per farmer unions…. pic.twitter.com/Y7gSK7s5eT

— Alok Pandey (@alok_pandey) October 3, 2021

The farmers had assembled there to oppose Maurya’s visit to Banbirpur, the native village of Union minister of state for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra.

Several journalists were also reported to have sustained injuries in the incident.

Meanwhile, in view of the violence, Deputy Chief Minister Maurya’s visit to Banbirpur village has been cancelled.

Recently, the minister Mishra had dismissed protests, saying it was done by “10-15 people”, and “it would take just two minutes to make them fall in line”.

(With inputs from agencies)