Following a ‘rail roko’ protest across the nation, movement of more than 290 trains had been affected. The protest was held to press Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s arrest over the Lakhimpur violence in Uttar Pradesh. 

His son Ashish had been arrested earlier in connection with the incident. 

Security was deployed during the protest in which 293 trains were impacted, out of which 75 were responsible for carrying coal to power plants, NDTV sources said.

“Four sections of the Ferozepur division were blocked by the protesters,” said a railway official. “The Ferozepur-Fazilka section in Ferozepur city and the Ferozepur-Ludhiana section at Ajitwal in Moga were affected,” he added.

“This (rail roko) will take place at different places in different districts. The people there, all over the country know where we have to stop the train. The Government of India has not spoken to us yet,” said farmer leader Rakesh Tikait.

Lucknow police announced that they would take action against those who participate in the agitation, adding that the stringent National Security Act will be invoked against those trying to disrupt normalcy.

Eight people, including four farmers, were mowed down by Ajay Mishra’s car on October 3. Farmers have allegedly said it was the union minister’s son Ashish who ran the car over the farmers holding a protest. 

The minister and his son denied the allegation. 

NDTV sources in Uttar Pradesh police said that the “minister’s son was arrested since he was not able to answer several questions about his whereabouts during the violence allegedly triggered after the vehicle ran over farmers”.

Rahul Gandhi-led Congress urged President Ram Nath Kovind to fire the minister’s son. “The President, in turn, has said he will speak to the government over the issue,” said the Congress.

While Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called the incident “absolutely condemnable”, she added that such incidents should be treated equally all across the nation and raised “when they happen and not when it suits others” because there is a BJP government in Uttar Pradesh.