Nivendra Kumar Mishra, 75, three-time MLA from Nighasan in the past, was allegedly beaten to death by “armed” men on Sunday.

The former MLA was attacked near his house in Lakhimpur Kheri, 130km north of Lucknow, when he had gone to see a plot with his son.

Mishra’s son Sanjeev was attacked when he tried to save his father and is in hospital.

Satyendra Kumar, superintendent of police of Lakhimpur Kheri, said: “The former MLA fell on the ground and suffered a heart attack during a minor scuffle ....It is wrong that there were armed people who assaulted him.” However, he didn’t reply when asked how Sanjeev suffered injuries.