Farmers, cops clash in Hisar as Khattar inaugurates Covid facility

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, May 16

A violent clash occurred between farmers and police as stone pelting was witnessed and the cops resorted to use of teargas and force in Hisar town on Sunday.

Around 50 farmers and nearly 20 cops were reportedly injured in the clash that continued for nearly two hours.

The incident occurred when the farmers were proceeding towards Hisar town from Ramayan toll plaza to stage protest on the arrival of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar who has inaugurated newly set up Covid hospital at the Om Prakash Jindal Modern School in the Industrial Area in the town. The farmers had given a call to stage protest and show black flags to the CM. 

After the incident, the farmers held a meeting at the Ramayan toll plaza and took three decisions, including blockade of all the highways in Haryana from 5 pm to 7 pm today, gherao of the IGP office in Hisar and gherao of all the police stations in Haryana tomorrow.

BKU leader Gurnam Singh Charuni was also present in the meeting.

Charuni said the ambulances, oxygen vehicles, doctors, fire brigade, Army vehicles will not be stopped at the any blockade.

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait addressed the protesters during a dharna at the IGP's residence in Hisar.

In the evening, Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Soni said the standoff between the police and farmers has been resolved after a joint meeting. She added that the Hisar SP has agreed to the demand to release all farmer activists detained by the police, while the farmers have agreed to lift their dharna from outside the IGP residence in Hisar.

Initially, the police managed to stop the farmers at the outskirts of the town. However, the farmers broke the barricades and started walking to the venue of the CM’s programme.

The police fired teargas shells and also detained some protesters, including women, as they reached the Industrial Area -- the venue of the CM’s function. However, the CM had left the venue after inaugurating the hospital by the time the protesters reached the venue.

As the farmers kept on marching towards the venue, a clash ensued between the police and the protesters which continued for nearly two hours. The police tried to disperse the farmers, including women, by firing teargas shells and also resorted to lathicharge. The farmers started pelting cops with stones, who retaliated by throwing stones and using teargas.

A police spokesperson said nearly 20 cops were injured and some police vehicles have also been damaged in the stone pelting by the farmers. He said the police were taking stock of the entire incident and will register a case.

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