New viral video shows SUV running over people in Lakhimpur Kheri
A longer version of a viral video, reportedly from Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh where eight people were killed on October 3, shows an SUV running over a group of protesting farmers who were walking on the road holding flags.
A new video, a longer version of a viral video, reportedly from Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh where eight people were killed on October 3, shows an SUV running over a group of people walking on the road holding flags.
The video shows the SUV coming with speed and ramming into the protesters, followed by two more cars. This is followed by people running helter-skelter and some of them running after the convoy with wooden sticks.
Protesters have said that the vehicle belonged to the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra ‘Teni’ at whose native village Tikunia a wrestling match was organised on October 3 and Uttar Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya was visiting the annual dangal event.
Also Read: When Lakhimpur Kheri’s annual dangal turned deadly; eight people killed
Farmers in the area had gathered there to protest against the three central farm laws and an earlier purportedly inflammatory speech by ‘Teni’.
The police has not yet certified the authenticity of the viral video. Gaon Connection has also not independently verified the video.
Both Ashish Mishra and his father, Ajay Kumar Mishra, have denied the allegations. “I was present in this programme [dangal] from morning till the end and went nowhere. Some workers were sent to receive the Deputy Chief Minister. But, before they could reach to receive them, the vehicles were attacked, vandalised and people were pulled out of the vehicles and killed,” Ashish Mishra has been quoted as saying.
However, the First Information Report (FIR) dated October 4 filed by the farmers reads that the accused Ashish Mishra was seated on left in his four wheeler Thar. “He was firing and mowed down the crowd” reads the FIR against the Union minister’s son.
Meanwhile, a number of political leaders have been tweeting the new video. Varun Gandhi, Member of Parliament (Pilibhit) tweeted and said: “The video is crystal clear. Protestors cannot be silenced through murder. There has to be accountability for the innocent blood of farmers that has been spilled and justice must be delivered before a message of arrogance and cruelty enters the minds of every farmer.”
Congress party has also tweeted the new video and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were protect the accused.