Police Officer Physically Assaults Farmer and Mother in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri Over Request for Fertilizer, Resorting to Use of Sticks
In the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh, a disturbing incident unfolded on a Wednesday in July 2025. A group of small farmers staged a peaceful protest, demanding fertilizers for their crops. However, the situation escalated when the police reportedly lathicharged the protesters, causing unrest in the area.
The incident was captured on video and shared online, showing a policeman manhandling an elderly farmer and thrashing another with sticks. This video sparked outrage on social media, with many describing it as a dictatorship.
The farmers alleged that they have been facing a shortage of fertilizers, while rich farmers are reportedly receiving trolleys full of the essential agricultural commodity. The farmer's demand for fertilizers was directed at officials present on the Lakhimpur Mohammadii Highway within the Lakhimpur Kheri district.
The Agriculture Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Surya Pratap Shahi, visited the district on the same day to address the issue. However, the Minister claimed that there is no shortage of fertilizers in the state.
In a separate incident, a truck and tanker fell into the Mahisagar River after a bridge collapsed in Anand, Gujarat. This unfortunate event disrupted connectivity between Anand and Vadodara.
It is important to note that the Lakhimpur Kheri incident is not to be confused with a tragic event that occurred on October 3, 2021. On that day, a group of protesting farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri was allegedly run over by a vehicle driven by Ashish Mishra, the son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni. The incident resulted in the deaths of several farmers and a journalist.
The ongoing investigation into the 2021 incident involves multiple agencies, including the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and forensic teams. Ashish Mishra has been arrested in connection with the incident, facing charges related to the tragedy. However, the latest updates on the legal proceedings and the current status of Ashish Mishra's case were not available at the time of this report.
The Lakhimpur Kheri incidents highlight the ongoing tensions between the government and protesting farmers and raise concerns about violence and impunity in such cases. The Kheri Police claimed that normal traffic was restored after taking stern steps to clear the highway. However, the situation serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by small farmers in accessing essential resources and the importance of peaceful dialogue in resolving such issues.
- The disturbing incident in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh, involving small farmers demanding fertilizers for their crops, has sparked a surge of general-news coverage and discussions in politics and crime-and-justice segments, with many people expressing outrage over the police's response.
- Meanwhile, in a separate news item, a truck and tanker fell into the Mahisagar River after a bridge collapsed in Anand, Gujarat, affecting connectivity between Anand and Vadodara, marking a sad chapter in general news.
- In contrast, the ongoing investigation into the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri incident, which resulted in the deaths of several farmers and a journalist, remains a hot topic in both crime-and-justice and general-news segments, as legal proceedings continue against Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni.
