Delhi Chalo Movement: Farmer killed, 12 policemen injured in clash

A 21-year-old farmer was killed and around 12 police personnel were injured in clashes between security personnel and protesting farmers in Khanauri. Punjab-Haryana border,

Farmer leaders said this is the first death in the clashes since the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protests began on February 13.

Farmer leader Baldev Singh Sirsa said the deceased has been identified as Shubhakaran Singh (21), a resident of Baloke village in Bathinda district of Punjab.

HS Rekhi, medical superintendent of Patiala-based Rajindra Hospital, told reporters that three people were brought to the hospital from Khanauri border point, one of whom was dead.

Rekhi said that the deceased had an injury on his head but the exact cause of his death would be known after the post-mortem. He said that the condition of the other two is stable.

Tear gas shells were fired at Shambhu and Khanauri border points to disperse farmers from Punjab as they tried to move towards the barricades to stop their protest march in Delhi.

Farmers in Khanauri claimed that apart from tear gas shells, Haryana Police personnel also fired rubber bullets.

However, a Haryana Police spokesperson said that protesting farmers attacked security personnel with stones and sticks at the Khanauri border, leaving 12 of them seriously injured.

The spokesperson further said that after the protesters surrounded the security personnel deployed at Khanauri border, they poured chilli powder on the stubble and set it on fire.

The spokesperson said that due to the poisonous smoke, the policemen deployed in the area faced difficulty in breathing and burning sensation in the eyes.

Haryana Police appealed to the farmers to protest peacefully and cooperate in maintaining law and order. It also urged them not to light fires because smoke reduces visibility and hinders the ability of police to maintain order.

Criticizing the Haryana Police for allegedly using “force” on the protesters, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said that on one hand the government wants to talk to them while on the other hand there is a son of a mother who is fighting for the law on MSP and loan waiver. Has come for. Lost his life.

AAP leader and Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh said it was unfortunate that a young farmer had died and said force was used against peacefully protesting farmers.

Condemning the action of Haryana Police, he said, “This is murder of democracy.” Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal described the death of the young farmer as “extremely tragic”.

“The death of Maur (Bathinda) boy Shubhakaran Singh in Haryana Police firing at Khanauri border has spread despair in Punjab. The conspiratorial double game of Punjab Chief Minister @Bhagwant Mann is responsible for the loss of this young life, its only brother. two sisters.

“Police of another state are allowed to attack and kill Punjabis on Punjab soil Bhagwant Maan Cooperation with Haryana against the farmers of Punjab.

It is unheard of in a democracy for peaceful protests to be met with bullets. Badal alleged in a post on X, ‘The innocent blood of Shubhakaran Singh is in the hands of Bhagwant Mann.

Senior Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa condemned the BJP-led Haryana government.

He slammed the chief minister, who also holds the home portfolio, for his “failure to stop the BJP-led Haryana government from firing in Punjab’s jurisdiction”.

“Shubhakaran Singh, a farmer of Ballo village in Bathinda district, was killed by a rubber bullet allegedly fired by the Haryana Police while he was carrying out a peaceful protest under the jurisdiction of Punjab,” Bajwa claimed in his statement. ”

Thousands of farmers protesting at the two border points of Punjab and Haryana had announced to resume their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march. At 11 am, but they had not yet moved towards the national capital.

When some young farmers tried to move towards the barricades, Haryana security personnel fired tear gas shells at both Shambhu and Khanauri border points.

Since February 13, farmers have gathered at the border points with their tractor-trolleys, mini-vans and pickup trucks.

Heavy earth-moving equipment, including excavators and modified tractors, were seen at the protest sites, with police warning that these could be used to break barricades and harm security personnel.

Apart from the law on MSP, farmers are also demanding implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariffs, withdrawal of police cases against protesters and “justice” for the victims of 2021. Are. Lakhimpur Kheri violence, restoration of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to families of farmers killed during the agitation in 2020-21.

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