In Glass Cases At Protest Site, The Bodies Of 4 Farmers Run Over
NDTV
The bodies of four farmers who, according to their supporters, were run over by a car in a minister's convoy, were kept in glass cases this morning at Lakhimpur Kheri, a four-hour drive from Lucknow.
Farmers say that the son of union minister Ajay Mishra was driving the car; he has emphatically denied the allegations.
The government of Uttar Pradesh has said the family of each farmer who died will be given Rs. 45 lakhs; that those responsible for the deaths will be arrested as soon as possible. A former High Court judge will investigate the violence which killed eight people after angry crowds erupted in violence and set several cars on fire. Apart from the farmers, among the four others killed were a journalist, and three were reportedly BJP supporters.
The violence is the worst since famers began a protest over a year ago against three new farm laws introduced by the centre, which farmers say, are designed to help corporates and are against their basic interests. The centre refutes this and says these apprehensions are misplaced.
