Hours after Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was detained by the Uttar Pradesh police on her way to meet the families of the four farmers killed in violence in Lakhimpur Kheri district, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and other MLAs were also detained while trying to reach the UP district.
Eight people, including four farmers, were killed in the district after violence on Sunday over a visit by Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra and UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya. A murder case has been filed against Mr Mishra's son and several others over the violence.
The farmers, who had assembled to stop the visit of the Union Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya, said the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri started after one of the cars in the ministers' convoy mowed down the protesters. Visuals from the area showed arson and vehicles set on fire.
This morning, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was detained by the Uttar Pradesh police as she headed to meet the families of four farmers killed in the violence. "I am not important than the people you have killed. The government you are defending. You give me a legal warrant, a legal basis or else I will not move from here and you won't touch me," a visibly agitated Congress leader, surrounded by policemen, is heard saying in a video when her convoy is stopped at Sitapur.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said he was "saddened" by the violence in his state that left eight people, including four farmers, dead. He promised strict action against those responsible following an investigation and made an appeal to maintain peace.
