“Eight people have been killed – four were farmers and four were BJP workers. Senior officials are working out what further action will be taken in the matter. It is expected that FIR will be registered from both the sides. Transparent investigation will be done. The situation is peaceful and under our control,” Nighasan sub-divisional magistrate Om Prakash Gupta Told TOI.
three companies of Police Armed Constabulary Locals said that the area and internet services have been sent, they have been suspended. ADG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar Had left for the village with IG (Lucknow Range) Lakshmi Singh. Nighasan SDM Om Prakash Gupta said, “The situation is peaceful and under control.”
The protest goes back to a statement allegedly made by Tenney at a public meeting. Sampoorn Nagar Last week in Lakhimpur Kheri, a purported video of which was going viral in which he can be heard saying, “Fix yourself or face me” in reference to the farmers’ protest. I’ll fix you in a few minutes. I’m not just a minister or a MLA Or an MP. Those who knew me before becoming an MLA would also know that I never shy away from challenges.
Indian Sikh organization president Jasbir Singh Virk said that Teni and deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya were ready to protest against black flag farmers at Maharaja Agrasen Sports Ground helipad to address an event on Sunday. “But they did not come, and the farmers learned that they had changed their plan and were walking on the road. My farmers saw this as a success and were moving back,” he added in a video statement.
The CM said, ‘ADG law and order, senior officers including IG are investigating the incident from the spot and controlling the situation. Action will be taken against whoever is found guilty. People are requested to stay at home and help the administration in maintaining peace in the area. They should wait for the inquiry report before reaching any conclusion.”
Gagan Chatha, one of the protesters told TOI, “It was a narrow road where we were protesting. Teni’s son arrived in a vehicle with two other SUVs. When some farmers waved black flags on his vehicle, his car accelerated and another deliberately ran over the farmers doing so. Many of us went out of its way – at 200 meters the vehicle passed over almost everyone.”
Teni did not respond to TOI’s call for comment. Earlier in the evening, he had denied all the allegations in an interview given to a news channel. He said that “anti-social elements among farmers” started pelting stones at BJP workers, the driver of one vehicle was killed and his vehicle overturned on the farmers, killing two on the spot. “Then, farmers thrashed four BJP workers and set vehicles on fire. The farmers who died were from Nanpara in Bahraich, not even Lakhimpur Kheri. This indicates that it was a well-planned act. Anti-social elements were hiding among the farmers.
At least two farmers who died were not from Bahraich, TOI confirmed – Nachhatar Singh, 60, from Lakhimpur Kheri and Lovepreet Singh, 20, from Chokdha Khet in Mazgai, Lakhimpur Kheri. An eyewitness Gurpez Singh, 26, told TOI, “We had blocked the road when the minister’s vehicle ran over us farmers. I managed to get out of the way but my nephew Lovepreet could not. He died. The vehicle was stopped a few meters ahead and the minister’s son Monu (Ashish) Mishra came out with a pistol in his hand and managed to escape with the help of policemen. The two other farmers who died were 35-year-old Daljit Singh and 19-year-old Gurvinder Singh, farmer leaders told TOI. Where they were from could not be confirmed.
When the vehicles were stopped, the farmers caught the rest of the party workers in the cars. “We rescued three people and handed them over to the police after questioning. All three were from Allahabad and they said they work for Minister Teni,” said Chatta. Another protester, Vikramjit Singh told TOI, “Tejinder Singh Virk, president of Terai Kisan Mahasabha, was seriously injured in the head and leg. He has been admitted to the hospital and his condition is critical.”
Additional SP Arun Kumar Singh told the farmers, my farmer brothers, I promise you that action will be taken against whoever is responsible.
In the interview, Teni refuted the allegations against his son, saying, “My son was at the venue since 11 am, where many government officials were also present. He did not leave the venue even for a moment. There was a driver at the wheel of my car and there were three party workers in the car. They died a tragic death… I have video evidence to prove that my son was not there and that he would be involved in any necessary investigation.
(with inputs from Akash Ahuja in Rudrapur)
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