Lakhimpur Kheri incident ‘unfortunate': UP CM Yogi Adityanath orders probe, promises tough action

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed grief over the Lakhimpur-Kheri incident in which at least eight people were killed as violence erupted during a farmers' protest on Sunday. Describing the incident as "unfortunate", Yogi Adityanath said that "action will be taken against whoever is responsible."

In a tweet, the chief minister said, "The incident that happened in Lakhimpur Kheri district is very sad and unfortunate. @UPGovt Will go into the bottom of the causes of this incident and expose the elements involved in the incident and take strict action against the culprits."

मौके पर शासन द्वारा अपर मुख्य सचिव नियुक्ति, कार्मिक एवं कृषि, ए.डी.जी. कानून-व्यवस्था, आयुक्त लखनऊ तथा आई.जी. लखनऊ मौजूद हैं तथा स्थिति को नियंत्रण में रखते हुए घटना के कारणों की गहराई से जांच कर रहे हैं। घटना में लिप्त जो भी जिम्मेदार होगा, सरकार उसके खिलाफ सख्त कार्यवाही करेगी — Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) October 3, 2021

CM Yogi Adityanath appealed the locals to maintain peace and not pay heed to rumours. He also asked people to refrain from arriving at any conclusions.

"There is an appeal to all the people of the area not to be misled by anyone and contribute in maintaining peace and order on the spot. Wait for the on-the-spot investigation and action before jumping to any conclusion," he said.

क्षेत्र के सभी लोगों से अपील है कि वे किसी के बहकावे में न आएं व मौके पर शान्ति-व्यवस्था कायम रखने में अपना योगदान दें। किसी प्रकार के निष्कर्ष पर पहुंचने से पहले मौके पर हो रही जांच तथा कार्यवाही का इन्तजार करें। — Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) October 3, 2021

Uttar Pradesh Police has registered an FIR against Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra and his son Ashish in connection with the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri during which at least people were killed on Sunday.

Several farmer leaders, including BKU’s Rakesh Tikait, had demanded that an FIR be registered against MoS Mishra and his son for their alleged involvement in the violence that hit the district on Sunday.

Ashish Mishra, son of Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni, has said that the allegations against him regarding the Lakhimpur Kheri incident are baseless and that he was not present at the scene of the incident. Denying the allegations put against him, Ashish Mishra said that he was attending an event at Banbirpur at the time of the incident.

"...Some unruly elements attacked our workers, killed 4-5 of them. I was in Banbirpur from 9 am till the end...I have not been at the (incident) spot for two days...It could be that they don't like me and using politics...," Ashish Mishra said. "Allegations against me are completely baseless and I demand judicial inquiry of this matter and culprits should get punished," he added.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other party leaders were detained in Sitapur on Monday, with the party alleging they were not allowed to meet the victims of the violence that erupted during a farmers' protest in Lakhimpur Kheri a day earlier.

Stopping them in such a way is "undemocratic", Congress state President Ajay Kumar Lallu said. "Priyanka Gandhi, Deepender Singh Hooda and other leaders were detained in Sitapur around 5 am," Lallu said.

Eight people were killed on Sunday as violence erupted during a farmers' protest, claiming the lives of both farmers and BJP workers ahead of a visit to Lakhimpur by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.

Angry protesters allegedly forced the two vehicles to stop and set them on fire. They also allegedly thrashed some passengers. Taking serious cognisance of the incident, UP police's additional director general (ADG) (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar, along with other senior officials, are present at the spot to control the situation.