Stone hurled at Deputy Speaker’s official vehicle in Hisar village

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, January 9

A group of agitating farmers allegedly hurled a stone at the official vehicle of Deputy Speaker Ranbir Singh Gangwa during his visit to Arya Nagar village to attend a social welfare programme organised by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) today. He was the chief guest at the event. Gangwa escaped unhurt.

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The incident took place when the Deputy Speaker was leaving the venue. The protesters showed him black flags and raised anti-government slogans.

One of his security men, Sandeep Kumar, was injured while trying to keep the crowd away. He was taken to the Civil Hospital, where doctors gave him first aid and discharged later.

Arya Nagar happens to be the village of the Deputy Speaker’s in-laws. Gangwa stayed at the venue for nearly one hour and also visited the residence of local supporter RS Varma. Confirming this to The Tribune, the Deputy Speaker said some protesters carrying flags of farmer organisations gheraoed his vehicle and hurled a stone at it.

SHO, Azad Nagar police station, Rohtash Singh said they had registered a case on the basis of a complaint lodged by the injured security guard.

Village sarpanch Jagdish Singh, however, clarified that the protesters were from other villages and no resident of Arya Nagar village was involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, some BJP workers also faced a protest during a party programme in Barwala town today.

At Jakhod Khera village, residents got development projects inaugurated by chowkidar Mamu Ram. Jitender, a representative of sarpanch Poonam, said earlier, they had planned to invite the Deputy Speaker to the inauguration. However, sensing trouble, they dropped the idea and got the works inaugurated by the chowkidar.