Local journalist among 8 killed in Lakhimpur Kheri violence

Lakhimpur Kheri (UP), October 5

A 28-year-old journalist was among the eight people killed in the violence that erupted during a farmers’ protest at Lakhimpur Kheri.

Local journalists have demanded a compensation of Rs 50 lakh for the family of Raman Kashyap, who worked with a private TV channel. They have also demanded a job for his wife and immediate arrest of the accused in the case.

Kashyap was a resident of Nighasan tehsil of the Lakhimpur Kheri district. Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra’s village, Banbirpur, falls under this tehsil.

Kashyap’s family said he is survived by his wife and two children, a son and a daughter.

The locals journalists held a dharna in Nighasan on Monday over his death in which his father, Ram Dulare, was also present.

Dulare said that his son was covering the farmers’ protest on Sunday when he was hit by a vehicle and got grievously injured. The journalist could not be traced for a while after the event and was admitted to the district hospital late on Sunday night.

He succumbed to his injuries on Monday and his body was identified by his father later.

Four farmers died after allegedly being knocked down by vehicles driven by BJP workers travelling to welcome Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.

Four others, including Kashyap, were also killed in the clashes. Two were BJP workers, Shyam Sundar and  Shubham Mishra (27), and one was the Union minister’s driver Hariom Mishra (35). All three hailed from Lakhimpur Kheri district.

The government had announced of a compensation of Rs 45 lakh each to families of four at the venue of the farmers’ agitation in the presence of farmer leader Rakesh Tikiat. — PTI