A Congress worker died during the party’s protest near the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday, with state unit chief Ajay Rai claiming that he died because of “police brutality”.

The police have lodged a murder FIR against unknown persons and said a post-mortem would be conducted by a panel of doctors. They asked people to abstain from spreading rumours.

The police said 28-year-old Prabhat Pandey, a native of Gorakhpur, was brought dead to the hospital from the Congress office.

“Prabhat Pandey was brought to the Civil Hospital in Hazratganj in an unconscious condition from the Congress office. The doctors declared him brought dead,” DCP (Central Lucknow) Raveena Tyagi said.

“Prima facie, according to doctors, there was no visible injury mark on his body. Apart from this, a post-mortem will be done by a panel and the process will be videographed. Accordingly, further legal proceedings will be carried out,” Tyagi added.

Rai posted on X: “Today, while going to gherao the Assembly, our young colleague Prabhat Pandey ji passed away due to police brutality.”

“This incident is extremely sad and condemnable. Our Congress family is hurt and angry by this accident. We will not tolerate this incident at all.”

“The Yogi government should give financial assistance of Rs 1 crore to the family of the deceased and a government job to one member of the family as compensation,” Rai added.

The Congress was protesting against the stategovernment over farm distress, unemployment, inflation, privatisation and lawand order.

Barricades were put up around the Assembly premises to prevent Congress workers from reaching the protest site, while route diversions severely impacted traffic movement in the heart of the city.

Prabhat’s uncle Manish Kumar Pandey said he suspected foul play in the death.

PTI