Farmer leaders decide to continue protest over arrest of 2 activists for gheraoing Tohana MLA’s residence
Deeepender Deswal
Tribune News Service
Hisar, June 6
In another twist in Tohana farmers arrest case, the farmer leaders decided to continue their demonstration after there was no resolution to the issue of an FIR registered in connection with gherao of the residence of Tohana MLA Devender Singh Babli on Wednesday night.
While the matter related to the assault on the MLA’s car and injury to his PA was resolved after he apologised for using abusive language and also announced to forgive the activists who had got engaged in a confrontation with him on Tuesday but the matter related to another FIR which was registered on Wednesday night after a group of farmer activists gheraod the residence of MLA Babli.
The police itself was the complainant in this case. Thus, MLA Babli has no role in this case. The administrative officials maintained that they will firstly take legal opinion in this matter before proceeding for further action.
The police had arrested 28 people in this case, of which two activists Vikas Sisar and Ravi Azad have been sent to jail while the remaining activists were released by the police the next day (Thursday).
Though the farmer leaders, Tikait and Charuni, had differences on whether the farmer organisations should support Sisar and Azad as they had gone to the residence of MLA Babli overruling the decisions taken in a meeting in Tohana on Wednesday.
While Charuni termed them as rebels, Tikait backed them stating that they were also part of the farmers organisations and will demand their release even though they had failed to adhere to the collective decision of the farmers’ body on the matter.
Farmers are erecting tents indicating their longer stay in the Sadar police station in Tohana town of Fatehabad district.
BKU (Ugrahan) leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan also reached Tohana.
A delegation of farmers reported to be holding discussion with the DC and SP in Fatehabad to resolve the standoff between the administration and farmers.
