Lucknow: Eight people died out of them four farmers were killed in Uttar Pradesh after violence erupted on Sunday over a visit by two ministers. The farmers had assembled to stop the visit of the Union Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya in Lakhimpur Kheri district started after their car mowed down the protesters.

The farmers had planned to gherao the helipad to stop the arrival of the ministers. Once that ended and most people were on way back, three cars came and mowed down the farmers, one farmer died on the spot and another in the hospital. Union Minister of State Ajay Mishra has denied that son was linked to the violence. My son wasn’t present at the spot.

There were miscreants who attacked workers with sticks and swords. Had my son been there, he wouldn’t have come out alive, he said. Minister said to the media person about the incident that his son was present at the venue of the (Deputy Chief Minister’s) event all through and I was accompanying the deputy chief minister, he said.

The Minister said to the media persons that a section of farmers were holding protests. They showed black flags and pelted stones on the car, which overturned. Two farmers came under the car and died. Three BJP workers and the car driver were beaten to death by some people.

According to the farmer union’s sources four farmers died after being hit by the car and six others were injured. One of the leaders of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of farmers’ union, Tejinder S Virak has been seriously injured and is admitted to a hospital.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala and Kapil Sibal and other opposition leaders have condemned the violence. Priyanka Gandhi who was on her way to meet the families of the farmers killed was detained and not allowed to enter Lakhimpur Kheri. SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav said he will visit Lakhimpur Kheri today.