Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Toll rises to 9 after body of a local journalist recovered

Lakhimpur Kheri: Death toll in yesterday's violence in Tikonia area of the district went up to 9 after a body of a journalist was recovered on Monday morning.

Police said that local journalist of Nighasan area was identified as Raman Kashyap.

Deceased family members alleged that Raman was lynched by the protestors, who were wearing T shirts with photo of Bhindrawala.

The journalist went missing after yesterday's violence and his body was recovered from the agricultural field, police here said.

Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra Teni, whose son Ashish has been made prime accused by the farmers had already alleged that Sikh extremist group were behind this violence.

Meanwhile postmortem of all the bodies would be done today by panel of doctors.

Yesterday, 8 people including four farmers were killed and several others were injured when first a SUV crushed the farmers and then 4 people were died when their vehicle overturned in Tikonia area of the district on Sunday.

The farmers organisation claimed that the deceased farmers were identified as Harjeet Singh , Satwinder Singh, Satnam Singh and Agyat Lavra. All belong to towns and villages in Bahraich and Kheri districts.

Farmers have alleged that the car belonged to Teni’s convoy and was being driven by his son.

Four supporters of Union minister Ajay Mishra, including his driver were also killed.

Additional SP, Lakhimpur Kheri Arun Kumar Singh, has confirmed 8 people, four farmers and four occupants of the vehicles which allegedly ran over them, died in the incident today in Lakhimpur Kheri".

Internet services in Lakhimpur has been stopped by the telecom companies on the instructions of the district authorities since last night while educational ibstitutions were closed.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered high level probe and has appealed to the people to stay calm and avoid believing any rumours.

Authorities have banned entry of any politicians in the district and have promulgated section 144 of the CrPC.

On the other hand meeting between the protesting farmers and the district authorities were underway to resolve the issue.

According to the incident , farmers had gathered displaying black flags to protest a statement of Union minister had made in his speech. After the crushing incident, however, angry farmers present at the spot allegedly torched a vehicle reportedly belonging to the minister’s convoy.

It was also reported that the police force at Palia and Nighasan police stations ran away after the incident after farmers attacked them. They returned in the night with additional police force.

Reacting to allegations that his son Ashish Mishra was driving the vehicle that rammed protesting farmers and killed four persons , minister of state Ajay Mishra Teni said his son was not even present at the spot when the incident took place.

He slammed the entire incident and called it a “conspiracy", adding that people died as their vehicle overturned.

“My son was not even present at the spot… there is video footage of this," Teni told reporters.

Teni, in fact, said it was his driver and three other BJP karyakartas who were killed in the incident. “My driver was driving. He and three BJP karyakartas were killed. The entire incident is a conspiracy."

He alleged that some people from Nanpara in Bahriach were behind this conspiracy.

Teni added that his son will fully cooperate with the police in the investigation. (UNI)