Gobindpura land acquisition: Farmers protest, seek relief

Tribune News Service

Mansa, June 5

Hundreds of farmers under the banner of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugraha) protested outside the Sub-divisional Magistrate’s (SDM) office in Budhlada. They demanded that the state government fulfilled the promises it made during the acquisition of land in Gobindpura for the construction of a thermal plant. Joginder Dyalpura, BKU leader, Mansa, led the protest.

Farmers demanded that the farmers who got injured in the clash with the police during land acquisition be compensated. They demanded that the promised compensation of Rs 50,000 each be given to about 154 injured farmers. Farmers also demanded that about 110 acres that the government returned to them be denotified. They also raised their voice against the ineligible beneficiaries getting jobs as part of compensation. Around 151 outsiders have been given the jobs of constables and class four employees in Police, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and the Education Department.

During the forcible land acquisition of 882 acres in Gobindpura, Sirsiwala, Jalvehra in 2011, farmers and the police clashed. Two farmers died and many got injured in the clash.

Tehsildar Harsimran Singh, naib tehsildars Harkirat Singh, Balwinder Kaur Brar and Subash Mittal and a kanungo Harpal Singh were charge-sheeted for alleged misappropriation and discrepancies in several land mutations in the district.