8 dead, including four farmers and 3 BJP workers, in Lakhimpur Kheri violence

Four farmers were killed on Sunday, October 3, under the car of India’s state home minister and the car’s four occupants –– three members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and their driver –– were lynched to death with wooden rods, eyewitness videos showed. Samyukat Kisan Morcha has called upon all farmers’ organisations across the country to peacefully protest tomorrow, October 4.

Gaon Connection
| Updated: October 3rd, 2021

Four farmers have been killed in today’s clashes and a dozen injured,. Pic: Social media

Eight people, including four farmers and three BJP members sitting inside the vehicle that overturned, have died in violent clashes in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh today, on October 3, Additional District Magistrate Sanjay Singh confirmed to Gaon Connection.

This is an official confirmation of eight deaths in Tikunia village of Lakhimpur Kheri where protesting farmers and supporters of local political leaders clashed today. At least four farmers were mowed down by a car whereas another four –– three BJP supporters and a driver — were lynched to death.

Through heavy police deployment, the situation has been brought under control, says the district administration, but tension looms large. 

Uttar Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya was visiting the Union minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra’s village in Tikunia when the clash between the farmers protesting the three central farm laws and the local political leaders occurred.

Reportedly, the driver of the car carrying a minister’s son mowed down a group of farmers as he tried to swerve away from the crowd which resulted in the deaths of at least four persons and many sustained injuries, as claimed by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha.

However, the Union Minister has denied the presence of his son at the incident. “My son was not present at the place of Lakhimpur Kheri incident; have video evidence,” he was quoted as saying.

The minister also said that stones were pelted on BJP workers’ car which overturned and two persons came under it and died. The minister also claimed that BJP workers were lynched after this.

“Some elements in farmers, who were protesting, showed black flags and pelted stones on the car which turned turtle. Two farmers came under the car and died. Three BJP workers and the driver of the car were beaten to death by some people present there,” said Union minister Mishra.

Meanwhile, videos being circulated on social media showed unidentified men wielding lathis (wooden canes) lynching the lifeless body of a man on a grassy patch by a road while another body lay in the grass a few feet away.

Yogendra Yadav, national president of Swaraj India, who is one of the nine-member coordination committee of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha that addressed the press conference today, informed that at least four farmers have been killed in today’s clashes and a dozen injured.

Also Read: Lakhimpur Kheri violence: “Four farmers dead, more than a dozen injured”: Yogendra Yadav

The dead include Lavpreet Singh (20 years old), Nakshatra Singh (60), Daljeet Singh (35), and Gurvinder Singh (19), said Yadav. Those who have been injured are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

In response to the violence today, Samyukat Kisan Morcha has put forth four demands. First, it has demanded the resignation of Ajay Kumar Mishra (Teni), the current Minister of State in the Ministry of Home affairs, Government of India. He represents the Kheri constituency of Uttar Pradesh and is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party party.

Second, a case under Section 302 should be filed; and third, a sitting judge of the Supreme Court of India should investigate the incident, said Yadav.

Samyukat Kisan Morcha has called upon all farmers’ organisations across the country to protest at District Collector’s/DM’s/DC’s offices in all districts between 12 noon and 1 pm tomorrow, October 4, to press for the above three demands.

Meanwhile, in a statement Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityananth has termed the Lakhimpur incident “unfortunate”. The state government will go into depth and expose elements involved in the incident and will take strict action against them, said the press statement.

Earlier today, when Gaon Connection spoke with the district magistrate of Lakhimpur Kheri, Arvind Kumar Chaurasiya, he said : “The area is under control now and the law and order situation is maintained. We have deployed heavy security at the clash site. Local police and PAC have taken the area under their control.”