Farmer climbs atop police vehicle during protest, turns off water cannon; photo goes viral

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, November 27

A picture of a young protester jumping and climbing onto a police car, to turn off the water cannons is being widely circulated online. 

The water cannons were being used to disperse the farmers.  

As the police reached out to him after he turned off the water-canon, he jumps his way out—like a scene from a movie. 

The picture is being treated as strength of farmers, who despite the tear gas and the biting cold of water canons, still marched forward.

The young protestor has been identified as Navdeep Singh, from Ambala district, who is a graduate and was protesting along with farmers from over 250 villages.

ਖੱਟਰ ਸਰਕਾਰੇ ਜਿਹੜੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਬਛਾੜਾਂ ਅੱਜ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਮਾਰੀਆਂ ਇਹ ਪਾਣੀ ਸਾਡੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਚੋਂ ਹੀ ਆਉਂਦਾ ਜਿਸ ਦਿਨ ਭਾਖੜਾ ਨੂੰ ਠੱਲ ਪਾ ਤੀ ਫੇਰ ਪੀਣ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਤਰਸੇਂਗੀ।#ModiAgainstFarmers #ChaloDelhi #farmersdillichalo pic.twitter.com/Z2gyNE1nQb

— ਸਿਸਟਮ ਦਾ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਕਿਰਸਾਨ ਸਿਓਂ بالجععت طیرک (@virkbaljeet007) November 25, 2020

This young protestor jumped on to the the water cannon, turned the tap off and jumped right back on to his trolley, during yesterday's protest at Punjab-Haryana border. #BharatBand #bharatbandh pic.twitter.com/doXYQ5cWTC

— Avantika Tewari (@Avantikatewari) November 26, 2020

This youth getting all praise from Punjab farmers for his act at Kurukshetra Hry, he reached water canon vehicle stopped it saving farmers from high velocity water and jumped bk on tractor trolley to continue journey towards Delhi to protest against farm laws @BKU_KisanUnion pic.twitter.com/iYDlnuglDl

— Neel Kamal (@NeelkamalTOI) November 25, 2020

"I was a studious child, never did these kind of things like climbing and jumping. But the bravery shown by protesters gave my courage," he told Punjabi Lok channel, reports The Quint.

I climbed from a tractor trolley on to the truck and reached the tap. I turned it off, but a policeman had also climbed (on to the truck) chasing me. But by that time, my brother had brought his tractor near and I jumped on it," he adds, detailing his movements which were captured on camera.

He mentions that the police 'hit him on the feet with sticks,' but he doesn't have anger against them, as "They too, are the sons of farmers."