20 farm activists held, let off later
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 17
The police arrested nearly 20 farm activists at the motor market in Sector 48 when they blocked the market’s entrance in protest against the BJP’s programme which was attended by the party’s leader Sanjay Tandon and Mayor Ravi Kant Sharma among others. They were later released in the evening when members of various pro-farmer organisations started gathering at Japanese Garden in Sector 31.
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President of Naujawan Kisan Ekta Kirpal Singh said: “We had blocked gate 2 and 3, which were barricaded by the police. When the BJP leaders arrived, we showed them black flags and they drove inside the market. When they came back, we again showed black flags, but all of a sudden, we saw stones being hurled at the cars. None of our volunteers did that, the police must have the videos of people who did so.”
However, one of the protesters said all exits of the market were blocked by farmers to gherao the BJP leaders. “When Tandon’s car drove out of the market, his car’s windshield was already broken. None of the protesters were inside the market,” said Amarinder Kaur.
Kirpal added, “After the BJP leaders came out, the police asked us to either get arrested or vacate the area in five minutes. Just when we started vacating the area peacefully, the police started lathicharge and rounded us up.”
A video of a 13-year-old being taken by the police in the riot-control vehicle has gone viral on social media. “The kid was later let off,” Kirpal shared.
Activist Rajwinder Kaur, who was the first to protest at the Matka Chowk, too was taken to the police station from GMCH-32. “She stood in front of Tandon’s car and was hurt. So, we took her to the hospital. She hadn’t gotten the complete medical treatment when the police took her,” Kirpal added.
Meanwhile, the protesters reached the Sector 31 police station and demand the release of their volunteers. “Even at the police station, the protesters were lathicharged and detained,” said Sukhchain Singh, an elderly Sikh man.
He added: “The SSP said give us the names of people who pelted stones, but we were only peacefully protesting. It’s their job to find out. They asked us to leave and I was about to go, but the police slapped me and removed my pagri.”
Aman of PSU Lalkaar said: “When more people started gathering at Japanese garden, the SP (City) visited the spot and proposed a talk with the representatives. About eight of us went to the police station and spoke with the police, including the SSP and the ASP (South). We asked them to investigate the matter as pro-farmer activists have been protesting peacefully in the city for eight months now.”
