21 cops among several hurt in clash as Hisar farmers attempt march to border

Tribune News Service

Deepender Deswal

Hisar, February 23

At least 21 police personnel, including a DSP, an SHO and three women constables, besides several farmers were injured in a violent clash between protesters and cops at Kheri Chopta in Narnaund subdivision of Hisar this afternoon.

PIL in SC alleges violation of farmers’ rights

Amid the ongoing farmers’ agitation, a PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court alleging violation of the rights of the “peacefully protesting” farmers by the Centre and four states.

The farmers, who had been holding a “pucca morcha” at the site for the past one week, had planned a march to the Khanauri-Data Singh Wala border in Jind but the police arrived at the scene and detained some leaders, including Suresh Koth, Kuldeep Kharar and others.

Sources said following the action, protesters started pelting police personnel with stones. The police resorted to firing of tear gas shells and lathi-charge to disperse the protesters.

Earlier, the farmers held a meeting at the site and decided to form a 110-member committee that would march to the Khanauri border to lend support to the protesting farmers at the border.

As the committee members gathered near the stage of the venue, the police led by a DSP swooped down on the activists and detained some of them. The farmers protested the detention of activists, leading to the clash, said sources. Soon, the activists started throwing stones, prompting the police to retaliate. The violence continued for nearly two hours.

Village residents said some tear gas shells fell in their houses. The injured protesters, however, chose not to get admitted to hospitals to avoid identification, the sources said. Farmer activists later held a meeting to chalk out a strategy in view of the violence.

A police spokesperson at Hansi said 21 personnel suffered injuries in the incident, adding they would furnish details later. Hisar DC Uttam Singh and SP Hansi Maqsood Ahmad could not be reached for comment. Later, the detained activists were released by the police. The DC and SP visited the village and met the activists. Subsequently, all leaders, nearly 15 of them, were released. The farmers will hold a meeting tomorrow to chalk out their further strategy. The farmers had started the “pucca morcha” on February 18 on a call given by a mahapanchayat at Sisay village in the district on February 15.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Police said they were withdrawing their earlier decision to invoke provisions of the National Security Act (NSA) against some farmer leaders who were part of the ongoing farmers’ agitation.

This comes a day after the Ambala police issued a statement saying they were implementing the process of detaining office-bearers of the protesting farmer outfits under Section 2(3) of the NSA to maintain law and order and prevent criminal activities. However, IGP (Ambala Range) Sibash Kabiraj said: “It is to clarify to all concerned that the matter of invoking provisions of the NSA on a few farm union leaders of Ambala district has been reconsidered and it has been decided that the same will not be invoked.”

(With PTI inputs)

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