Kharar grain market tense after clash

Our Correspondent

Kharar, October 23

The situation in the local grain market became tense today after a clash between Rajesh Sood, president of the Commission Agents Association, and two farmers of the nearby Swara village here last night.

While local commission agents closed their shops and suspended the procurement of paddy in the grain market as a mark of protest against the attack on Sood and his wife and son, who were seriously injured in the clash, members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union blocked the gates of the local grain market by parking tractor-trailers in front of the gates.

Sood, his wife Leena and son Sahil were admitted to the Civil Hospital, Kharar.

Talking to mediapersons in the hospital this morning, Sood said his son was returning in a car with his mother and sister after participating in a religious event last night. When they reached near their residence in the grain market around 10.30 pm, some farmers from Swara village blocked the way to their residence. They asked the farmers to remove the trailers and give them passage.

In the meantime, Sood also reached the spot and tried to pacify the farmers, but they were not ready to listen and allegedly attacked Sood and his family members.

Bharatiya Kisan Union president Jaspal Singh Niamain and Gurmeet Singh Khunimajra, however, alleged that two farmers — Satwinder Singh and Dalbir Singh — were beaten up by Sood and their two tractors were damaged.

Kharar Tehsildar Tarsem Mittal visited the grain market and tried to resolve the matter. ASI Bhupinder Singh of the Kharar police said the statements of both parties were being recorded and action would be initiated accordingly.

The paddy procurement resumed in the grain market this evening even as the tension between the commission agents and the farmers continued to prevail.