Farmers` protest turns violent killing 8 |
At least eight people were killed in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh`s Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3 as violence broke out during a farmers` protest against the state`s Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra`s visit. The violence flared up when two SUVs allegedly plowed into a group of protesters demonstrating against Maurya`s visit. According to the farmers` organization, the deceased farmers belong to towns and villages in the state`s Bahraich and Kheri districts. Farmers alleged that the car involved in the incident was part of union minister Ajay Mishra`s convoy and was being driven by his son. However, there is no confirmation by the police. Four supporters of Minister Mishra, including his driver, were lynched by protesting farmers. Internet services in Lakhimpur have been stopped by the telecom companies on the instructions of the district authorities. Heavy police deployment and barricading around the Lakhimpur Kheri district have brought life to a standstill as people including the locals are not being allowed to visit the area where violence claimed at least eight lives. Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was placed under house arrest by Lucknow Police, defied the order and left for Lakhimpur Kheri. She was detained in Hargaon on October 4.
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