Minister of state for home affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra 'Teni' on Dec. 15 lost his temper and hurled abuses at a journalist when asked about charges against his son Ashish, who is in jail in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri incident that took place on October 3. In a video the minister who was attending an event in his constituency here in north-central Uttar Pradesh, is seen losing his cool and can be heard saying that media persons "are thieves" who make "false allegations" which leads to arrests of "innocent people." A visibly irked minister was also seen attempting to hit the journalist but is prevented by people around him.