Kheri Chopta farmers resume dharna; no FIR over clash yet

Deepender Deswal

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Hisar, February 24

A day after the violent clash yesterday, farmers remained firm on continuing their dharna by putting up a pucca morcha at Kheri Chopta village of the district, though the situation remained peaceful today. The police have released all farmer leaders and have not pressed for the registration of a criminal case in connection with the clash.

Farmers held meetings with the district administration and said they would continue a peaceful dharna. They demanded action against cops who acted in an “irresponsible way”, leading to the clash.

Farmer leader Vikas Sisar said the police had released all farmers who had been detained yesterday. Asked about injuries inflicted on cops and damage to police vehicles, he said the farmers were holding a peaceful meeting and wanted to march to the Khanauri border. “We had no wrong intention. We were not at fault,” he stated.

Hansi SP Maqsood Ahmed said 34 police personnel, including himself and two DSPs, had suffered injuries. “The farmers want to march to the Khanauri border, but we asked them not to do so as they did not have permission. When they tried to start a march on tractors, the police detained 16 activists. Later, the farmers started hurling stones on the police,” he said. The SP said they had to resort to tear gas shells and water cannons to control the situation, but denied that the protesters were lathicharged.

The SP said he, along with the Hisar DC, held a meeting with the farmers last night and asked them to continue the dharna in a peaceful manner. No FIR had been registered so far, he said, adding that they had no report of injuries to the farmers.

Don’t implicate farmers: AIKS

All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) state leaders have condemned the unwarranted provocation by the police to take dharna leaders into custody. AIKS leader Inderjit Singh warned the Hisar district administration to refrain from implicating farmer activists in police cases.