Stubble burning cases: Defiant farmers want FIRs withdrawn, admn in a fix

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, December 2

The district administration is in a spot over the farmers’ agitation in Jaito. Demanding cancellation of stubble burning cases, farmers under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Unions Ekta and Sidhupur have been sitting on a dharna for over three weeks. 

Though farmers have already intensified their agitation, it seems that the district administration is not in a mood to concede to their demand. Acting tough, the Faridkot police on Monday also registered cases against three farmers of Bageana and Nangal village of Faridkot for burning stubble. The police have booked about 200 farmers in the district for burning stubble so far.  

Besides cancelation of FIRs, the farmers have been demanding removal of ‘Red Circle’ entries from their revenue record and withdrawal of penalties imposed on them. Intensifying their agitation, the farmers have been courting arrest for the past three days. On the first day, 50 farmers were sent to judicial custody for blocking a state highway. They were released on personal bonds. On the second day, 30 farmers courted arrest for the same offence and they were released on Sunday.

On Monday, continuing their ‘Jail Bharo’ agitation, 25 farmers courted arrest. With their move, the farmers have been planning to build pressure on the district administration. But not in mood to relent, the administration and the police are releasing the farmers on their personal bonds.

Protesters, children of whom are in foreign countries and have a desire to visit them, fear that FIRs will be an impediment in getting clearance for the passport or visa.

Besides the FIRs, the farmers are apprehensive that the ‘Red Circle’ entries in the revenue record will be an obstruction in them getting bank loans. Therefore, they want cancelation of FIRs and ‘Red Entries’ in revenue records.

However, the district administration and the police fear they may be reprimanded by the Supreme Court for giving a clean chit to the farmers accused of stubble burning. “Cancellation of FIRs and removal of the ‘Red Entries’ will encourage more and more farmers to continue with the practice of stubble burning in the coming Rabi season. Therefore, the state government wants to create a deterrent with these FIRs”, said a senior police officer.

Apprehensions of govt, protesters 

• Protesters, children of whom are in foreign countries and have a desire to visit them, fear that FIRs will be an impediment in getting clearance for the passport or visa.

• Besides the FIRs, the farmers are apprehensive that the ‘Red Circle’ entries in the revenue record will be an obstruction in getting bank loans. Therefore, they want cancellation of FIRs and ‘Red Entries’ in revenue records.

• However, the district administration and police fear they may be reprimanded by the Supreme Court for giving a clean chit to the farmers accused of stubble burning. 

• Though farmers have already intensified their agitation, it seems that the district administration is not in mood to concede to their demand