Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra detained on way to meet protesters

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted in support of her sister and said that the state administration was stunned by her courage.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was detained by the police while she was on her way to Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh on Monday. Ms Gandhi arrived at Lucknow airport on Sunday evening. She along with party leader Deepender Singh Hooda and others took alternative routes to reach Sitapur as they were stopped at several points by the police.

Ms Gandhi also had a tussle with a woman constable and demanded her arrest warrant following which she was taken into custody and detained at a guest house. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted in support of her sister and said that the state administration was stunned by her courage. "Priyanka, I know you won't back away - they are stunned by your courage. In this non-violent fight for justice, we will make the country's Annadata win," tweeted Rahul Gandhi in Hindi, adding the hashtag #NoFear.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh police have booked Union Minister of state for home Ajay Kumar Mishra Teni's son Ashish Mishra and others in the murder case filed by farmers in relation to the violence that erupted in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. 

Eight people died on Sunday after cars that were part of Mr Mishra's convoy allegedly crushed four farmers. Reportedly, angry farmers beat four BJP workers to death who were travelling in one of the vehicles that allegedly mowed down the farmers and later set their vehicles on fire.

The violence erupted as a group of protesting farmers in the Tikonia area of Kheri tried to block Mr Mishra and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's convoy from visiting the area. According to the statement issued by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers unions, alleged that Mr Mishra's son shot one of the farmers while others were run over by his car, reported HT.

However, the Union Minister denied the allegations and said his son was not present at the incident site. Forces have been deployed in the district and internet services have been suspended.