Two protesting farmers die at Tikri border in past 24 hours

Ravinder Saini
Tribune News Service
Jhajjar, January 20

Two farmers participating in the ongoing agitation at Tikri border lost their lives in the past 24 hours.

A Punjab farmer, identified as Dhanna Singh (65) of Tunda village in Patiala, died reportedly of cardiac arrest at Tikri-Bahadurgarh border in the wee hours of Wednesday while a Rohtak farmer, Jai Bhagwan (42), of Pakasma village who consumed some poisonous substance at Tikri yesterday, succumbed during the treatment at a hospital in Delhi today.

Sources said Dhanna had been camping near Balour chowk in Bahadurgarh town for the past several days. He as usual retired to bed on Tuesday night but did not wake up this morning. He was rushed to Civil Hospital in Bahadurgarh where he was declared brought dead.

Jai Bhagwan had consumed poison near the main dharna spot at Tikri border and was taken to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Delhi. A suicide note was also recovered from him.

In the note, Jai Bhagwan said he was a small farmer and many peasants have taken to the streets to protest against the Centre’s new farm laws. 

“The government says it is a matter of only two to three states, but farmers from all over the country are protesting against the laws. Sadly, it is not a movement now, but a fight of issues. The talks between the farmers and the Centre also remain deadlocked,” he wrote in the letter.