Farmers lathicharged at Chandimandir toll plaza

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, October 2

Farmers broke barricades with tractors and clashed with the police near the Chandimandir toll plaza today while they were marching towards Haryana Speaker and local MLA Gian Chand Gupta’s residence in Sector 17 to protest the postponing of paddy procurement, leaving many from both sides injured.

The police resorted to lathicharge to push back the protesters who were going to lay a siege to Gupta’s residence.

In a press note, the police, however, stated that they had to use “mild force” when the protesters tried to run over police personnel with tractors, in which a few policemen were injured.

In “order to maintain peace”, around 40-50 protesters were taken into custody near the Chandimandir and Jaloli toll plazas as well as the BJP district headquarters in Sector 2.

The detainees were later let off, said the police. They added that their investigation into the matter was under way.

“Based on the videographic evidence obtained from the spot, appropriate action will be taken,” the DCP PRO said.

To register a protest against the police, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni reached the toll barrier in the evening. In response to his video message earlier today, “enthusiastic farmers” in large numbers reached the toll plaza to support him. He had appealed to farmers of the nearby areas, including those from Chandigarh, to gather at the toll plaza in protest against the “brutal lathicharge” on farmers.

He also tweeted: “It’s a misconception by the government that farmers will call off their movement in fear of lathis and putting them in jail. Our agitation will go on until our demands are met.”

After the release of the detained farmers, Charuni called off the protest and urged the supporters to return home.

Agitators tried to run over cops: Police

In a press note, the police stated that they had to use “mild force” when the protesters tried to run over police personnel with tractors, in which a few policemen were injured.

Farmer leader seeks probe by rights panel

Charuni demanded that the Human Rights Commission should look into the “goondaism” by the Panchkula police. According to him, at least seven farmers, including minors, sustained injuries in the lathicharge by the police.