A day after ‘pact’, cane growers booked for disrupting rail traffic

JALANDHAR: A day after sugarcane farmers, who had blocked rail and road traffic in Jalandhar for seven hours, were assured that an FIR lodged against them for a protest at Mukerian would be cancelled, the Railway Protection Force booked around 3,000 protesters for disrupting rail traffic.

Farmers squat on a railway track in Jalandhar on Wednesday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 3

A day after sugarcane farmers, who had blocked rail and road traffic in Jalandhar for seven hours, were assured that an FIR lodged against them for a protest at Mukerian would be cancelled, the Railway Protection Force booked around 3,000 protesters for disrupting rail traffic.

The growers were also assured of an early payment of their dues.

The Railway Protection Force at Jalandhar Cantonment has booked Kamalpreet Singh, convener, Pagri Sambhal Jatta, one of the three participating unions, and about 2,500 to 3,000 farmers under Section 174 of the Railway Act (obstructing any train or other rolling stock by squatting or picketing or during any rail roko agitation or bandh).

Bishambar Singh, SHO, Jalandhar Cantonment, said: “As of now, we have lodged a complaint against the main leader. Other participating farmers would be named on the basis of intelligence reports. A majority of the farmers were protesting on the Jalandhar-Phagwara national highway, but we have booked only those who were squatting on tracks.”

The fresh FIR has come as a jolt for the farmer leaders. Kamalpreet Singh said he was shocked to know that instead of canceling the previous FIR, a fresh case had been lodged. “I have talked to IG Ishwar Chander on the matter. If things do not work out, we might have to plan another agitation,” he said.

The IG said: “We had told the farmers that the Mukerian FIR would be revised. I have learnt that the RPF has lodged an FIR in Jalandhar. Since they represent central forces, we cannot directly intervene.”

The action

The Railway Protection Force have booked Kamalpreet Singh, convener, Pagri Sambhal Jatta, along with around 3,000 protesters for disrupting rail traffic. The fresh FIR has come as a jolt for the farmer leaders.

‘Will protest move’

Kamalpreet Singh said he was shocked to know that instead of cancelling the previous FIR, a fresh case had been lodged. "I have talked to IG Ishwar Chander on the matter. If things do not work out, we might have to plan another agitation," he said.

Can’t intervene: IG

Ishwar Chander, IG, said: "We had told the farmers that the Mukerian FIR would be revised. I have learnt that the RPF has lodged an FIR in Jalandhar. Since they represent central forces, we cannot directly intervene."