Farmers hold policemen captive

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 14

Accusing the police of inaction in a suicide case, members of the BKU Ekta Ugrahan held policemen captive inside the Cantonment police station here on Friday.

Notably, the farm union members have been protesting against the police for the past six days. They also raised slogans against the police for allegedly not taking action in the matter.

The protesters locked the main entrance of the police station and they neither let any police personnel enter or exit the premises. The incharge of police station, along with other personnel, remained inside the premises throughout the day. However, the protesters allowed visitors coming with complaints or other work enter the police station.

Later, representatives of the farmers’ union conducted a meeting with the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and the latter assured them of registering an FIR in the case. After a case was registered against commission agents, the farm union members called off the protest in the evening.

Earlier, when the protesters did not allow any police personnel to enter the premises, senior police officers reached the spot and they were seen taking stock of the situation across the iron fencing of the police station premises.

Talking to Bathinda Tribune, Jasbeer Singh, press secretary of the union, said, “The SSP had given us an assurance to lodge an FIR against the culprits in the matter. Citing technical problems in the computer, officials at the police station delayed it deliberately. We unanimously decided to continue our protest until we get the copy of the FIR. Later, the police registered a case against the accused so we ended the protest.”

Members of the farmers’ union had alleged that two commission agents had duped Manjit Singh, a resident of Bhucho Khurd village, of Rs 20 lakh and when the latter asked for his money, they refused, forcing Manjit to take the extreme step.

The issue

Members of the BKU Ekta Ugrahan had alleged that two commission agents had duped Manjit Singh, a resident of Bhucho Khurd village, of Rs 20 lakh and when the latter asked for his money, they refused to give it, forcing Manjit to commit suicide. They were demanding an FIR against the accused.