Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Union min Ajay Mishra, son booked for murder

Uttar Pradesh police said on Monday they have booked Union minister of state for home Ajay Kumar Mishra Teni, his son Ashish Mishra and others for murder and other charges based on the complaint lodged by farmers in connection with Sunday's violence in the state's Lakhimpur district.

Lakhimpur Kheri superintendent of police (SP) Vijay Dhull said the first information report (FIR) was filed under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 302 for murder, 120-B for criminal conspiracy and 147 for rioting at Tikunia police station.

As many as eight people were killed as violence erupted after a car hit protesting farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, according to police. They said that four farmers were killed after allegedly being hit by a convoy and four others who were travelling in one of the vehicles were beaten to death. The incident was reported minutes before Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya was to visit the area. The farmers were protesting against the three central farm laws.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of dozens of farmers unions, issued a statement alleging that one of the four farmers was shot dead by Ajay Mishra Teni's son and others were allegedly run over by the vehicles of his convoy. The minister, however, said that his son was not present at the spot and only the jeep owned by him ferrying BJP workers were there.

Meanwhile, Lakhimpur Kheri district administration and police were holding talks with farmers' leader Rakesh Tikait, who reached Lakhimpur Kheri late on Sunday, to end their protest and allow the bodies of the victims to be sent for postmortem examination.

Lakhimpur Kheri district magistrate AK Chaurasia said he has received a memorandum from farmers, demanding the dismissal of Union minister Mishra, registration of FIR based on their complaint, payment of ex gratia and government jobs to the family of the deceased. He said they also demand judicial probe into the Sunday incident.