First, some necessary context

Rising tempers: For days now, farmers have been increasingly angry at Union Minister of State Ajay Misra Teni—who has taken a confrontational stance against their protests. On a recent visit to Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh, he declared: “Aise logon ko kehna chahta hun ki sudhar jao, nahin to samna karwake hum aapko sudhaar denge, do minute lagega sirf”(I want to say to such  people to ‘mend your ways’, otherwise I will make them face me and set them right in two minutes). 

The event: Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya was scheduled to visit Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3—to attend a wrestling event organised by Misra’s son Ashish. The farmers wearing black flags assembled at a local helipad—to block his helicopter from landing. But Maurya travelled to the event by car instead, and the farmers began to disperse—and that’s when a convoy of cars came hurtling down the road. 

No one can agree on exactly what happened next.

Version #1

This is the timeline according to most eyewitness accounts—and a few unnamed police sources. 

First: The farmers were walking on the road, when at least three cars raced at high speed and mowed them down:

“The vehicles drove in a zigzag manner. One of them was driven by Ashish Misra. The vehicles crushed the farmers, killing several of them. Our leader Tejender Singh Virk was dragged by the cars for a long distance. Some got stuck under the cars, but the vehicles didn’t stop. I couldn’t believe my eyes.”

Video to note: An unverified clip appears to show the horrific incident. You can watch it here.

Next: At least two of the cars crashed—and one of the drivers died on the spot. Ashish aka ‘Monu’ stepped out of one of the cars, pulled out a gun, according to a constable: “Monu whipped out a revolver and fired, hitting one of the farmers in the head, and he fell there. Monu and some of his supporters then fled on a motorcycle.” This was also confirmed by a “senior police official”: “Ashish Misra did not expect such a crowd and tried to escape, resulting in the incident.” So the allegation is that Misra shot and killed a fifth farmer.

Point to note: The police officially deny any shots were fired.

Finally: Angry farmers assaulted the BJP workers in the other cars. They admit to beating them—but not to death. And the farmers say the men were later handed over to the police. The police, however, claim that four of them were killed in the violence that followed. You can see a clip here.

Version #2

This is what Minister Misra says.

One: His son was nowhere close to the location where the tragedy happened. Ashish was attending an event nearby: “My son was present on the stage where the function was being held, over 2,000 people were present, there is video evidence also.”

Two: The vehicles were attacked by the farmers:

“My party workers were going to receive the Deputy CM when some assailants, who were among the farmers, attacked them with sticks and swords. Three party workers and a car driver died in the attack. They destroyed the vehicle and set it ablaze.”

Three: No one killed the farmers who nonetheless managed to die:

“Our supporters were going to receive Maurya when the farmers stopped them and started pelting them with stones and attacked them with lathis and swords. It was in this situation that some farmers came under the wheels of a car.”

A variation on the same theme: “As stones were pelted at the vehicle, it overturned and two farmers came under it.”

Four: Misra blames the Sikh extremist group Babbar Khalsa for the violence. The claim was echoed by other state BJP leaders: “[I]t seems this is not a coincidence but a well-planned experiment. Jihadi and Khalistani, anarchic elements want to spread unrest in the state.”

Still a mystery: The death of a TV reporter—who is among the nine who were killed. His father insists that the injuries show that he too was run over by a car—and not lynched by the farmers: “Gadi se hi mera beta mara hain. Ab chahe kiski gadi ho” (he was killed by a vehicle no matter whose car it was). His editor, however, claims that he was beaten up by “hooligans” at the scene—but insists that they were not farmers.

The aftermath looked like this…

The deal: Enraged farmers refused to release the bodies to the police for a post-mortem—and kept them on display in glass enclosures at the scene. Farm union leader Rakesh Tikait brokered a deal with the UP government. An FIR has been filed against Ashish Misra on charges that include murder and rioting. The government will also offer Rs 45 lakhs in compensation to the farmers’ families—along with a government job.

Point to note: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the incident as “unfortunate,” and said “strict action will be taken against those found guilty.” But he also promised that the government will “go deep into the matter and expose the people behind today’s incident”—which may yet lead to another ‘jihadi’ conspiracy theory. OTOH, the farmers plan to call a mahapanchayat in 10-12 days if they are not happy with the investigation.

A big blockade: The government has cordoned off the area, and shut down the internet. All roads have been blocked—and opposition leaders were prevented from reaching the scene. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav staged a sit-in—and was briefly detained. Also detained: Priyanka Gandhi and former UP MP Deepinder Hooda—who were held at a government guest house. Clips of Gandhi confronting the police went viral. Watch it below and wait for the moment when she yells: ‘Mahilayon se darte ho?’ at the policeman in charge:

And yes, the Congress party also shared a clip of her doing jhadu in the guesthouse—no doubt to bolster her aam aurat credentials.

The bottomline: The Supreme Court plans to look at whether farmers have a constitutional right to protest against the farm laws—and cited the Lakhimpur Kheri tragedy as a reason. So the real threat to the farmers may lie elsewhere.

Reading list

The Telegraph has the most eyewitness accounts, while Indian Express looks at the lead up to the violence. The Hindu has the most on the victims who were killed—and the aftermath at the scene of the crime. Indian Express also has an insider piece on the angst within the BJP—given the upcoming state elections.