Farmers killed in protests after BJP politician’s son ran over them in SUV (VIDEO)

Investigators are looking into Sunday's incident that led to the death of nine people in Uttar Pradesh. The son of the Minister of State in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs was in one of the cars. For Catholic farmers association, government repression is unacceptable.

Delhi (AsiaNews) – Protests in Lakhimpur Kheri, a district in the state of Uttar Pradesh (northern India), have not subsided after a convoy of cars carrying officials from a Union ministry ran over protesting farmers on Sunday.

Ashish Mishra, son of Ajay Mishra, Minister of State in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, was travelling in one of the cars.

As a result of the incident, nine people have died, including four crushed by government SUVs, following violent clashes broke out between farmers and supporters of the ruling Hindu nationalist party (BJP).

According to witnesses, Ashish Mishra was in a passenger seat in one of the vehicles that mowed down the farmers. However, details about the incident and the clashes have not yet been released.

Accusations of "premeditated violence" and "well-planned conspiracy" have been made. Several witnesses accuse Mishra's son of going to the site with 15-20 armed men in order to cause disorder.

Videos posted online show violent clashes and vehicles running into protesters.

Meanwhile two First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed in connection with the violence, said Prashant Kumar, Additional Director General of Police for law and order in Uttar Pradesh. 

One is against Ashish Mishra, who is accused of murder and causing death by negligence.

Farmers have been protesting against the government’s agriculture reforms approved in September 2020. For almost a year, strikes have been held on a non-stop basis, with occupation of railway lines and highways.

The reform, currently suspended by the Supreme Court, is designed to liberalise the agricultural market, allowing producers to sell their products to any buyer at any price. The market would no longer be regulated and controlled by the government. However, this would penalise small farmers and land holders, making it easier for large companies to buy them up.

In light of the latest developments, Indian Catholic farmers have expressed solidarity with the protests of fellow farmers in Uttar Pradesh.

“We strongly condemn the brutal way the government suppresses protesting farmers,” said Joy Kannanchira, chairman of the “We Farm” movement in Kerala, southern India.

The government, in his opinion, gave in to corporate interests. In view of this, “How can we trust the government?” he wonders. Ultimately, the struggle is not only for farmers’ survival but for that of India as well.

• india
• uttar pradesh
• protests
• farmers
• ashish mishra
• cars
• deaths
• agricultural reform