Govt cracks down on farm leaders

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 18

The district police, following intelligence inputs, swooped down on the houses of farmer leaders in the early hours today and took them into preventive custody. The development is aimed at thwarting the farmers’ five-day protest in the city beginning September 22.

“We have detained about 230 leaders, while around 170 have fled their houses fearing action. Besides Patiala, farmers have been arrested from Bathinda, Mansa, Sangrur and Barnala,” said an officer. “Initially, we were told to allow the protest, but now the top brass wants that no protest be allowed and farmer leaders be kept in preventive custody,” he said.

Meanwhile, farmer leaders said despite the crackdown, the dharna would be held as farmers were fed up with the government’s false promises. “The police are taking instructions from the government. We want that our demands, mainly a complete debt waiver, be met so that no more farmer loses his life,” said a BKU (Ekta) member.

Earlier today, DGP Suresh Arora held a meeting with senior police officers in the city. He reportedly told them to ensure that no farmer leader reached the city.

Cops’ leave cancelled 

Bathinda: The leave of policemen has been cancelled in view of farmers' protest in Patiala. Even the Punjab Armed Police and Indian Reserve Battalion have cancelled the leave of their personnel till further orders. Mukhwinder Singh Chhina, Inspector General of Police, Bathinda zone, said 81 farmers had been arrested from seven districts of Malwa. The arrested included Harpal Singh, brother of farmer leader Darshan Singh Myserkhana. He was later released after people gathered outside Maur police station. TNS