India / Sec 144 imposed in Lucknow ahead of 'rail roko' stir, police warns of action

Lucknow: Prohibitory orders banning the gathering of people (Section 144) were imposed in Lucknow on Monday in view of the 'rail roko' agitation called by farmers demanding the dismissal and arrest of Union Minister Ajay Misra in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.

In an order, the Lucknow Police Commissioner said strict action would be taken against those indulging in anti-national activity. Cops were stationed outside houses of farmer union leaders in Lucknow.

Lucknow Police said it would invoke the stringent National Security Act (NSA) if anyone tried to disrupt normalcy.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers' unions spearheading the agitation against the farm laws, said all train traffic would be stopped for six hours from 10 am till 4 pm on Monday.

"To press for its demand for MoS Home Ajay Misra's dismissal and arrest, so that justice can be secured in the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre, Samyukt Kisan Morcha has announced a nation-wide Rail Roko program...the SKM asks for this action to be taken up peacefully, without any destruction and damage of any kind to any railway property," the outfit said.

Eight people, including four farmers, were killed on October 3 as violence erupted during a farmers' protest in Lakhimpur Kheri.

Farmers' outfits have claimed that a car ferrying Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Misra's son Ashish ran over a group of protesters. Ashish Misra was arrested in the case on October 9. Ashish has, however, said that he was not in the car at the time of the incident.