Farmers suspend protest following assurance

The indefinite dharna launched today by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) was lifted after Baljit Singh, SP (Headquarters), assured the protesters that their demands would be reviewed.

Farmers, along with labourers, had staged the dharna in front of the District Administration Complex (DAC) under the leadership of Jarnail Singh Noordi, Fateh Singh Piddi and Resham Singh Ghurkwind. They were pressing for action on their ongoing demands.

Addressing the protestors, Harjinder Singh Shakri, district general secretary of the KMSC, alleged that the state government had completely failed to maintain law and order. He claimed that killings, extortion and police atrocities had become a routine. He further accused the the police of acting as a “tool of the ruling party”. He also cited several cases of police atrocities. The SP gave assurance that the issues raised by the KMSC would be reviewed. However, leaders of the agitating group warned that the agitation would be resumed if their demands were not met.