Lathi-charge on farmers in Karnal: Farmers block Chandimandir and Naggal toll plazas for four hours

Tribune News Service
Panchkula, August 28

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Angered over the lathi-charge on farmers in Karnal, hundreds of farmers blocked the Zirakpur-Kalka toll plaza near Surajpur thus causing a traffic jam on both sides of the toll on Saturday.

According to information, as soon as the farmers heard the news of brutal lathi-charge on the farmers at Karnal, they gathered at Chandimandar toll plaza (Surajpur) in Panchkula and started raising slogans against the chief minister and the state government.

The protesting farmers lifted the blockade after more than four hours at 7.30 pm giving relief to the commuters from Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, who were on their way to Shimla, and trapped in the jam.

Earlier only ambulances were given way and at about 6 pm two wheelers were allowed to cross the toll plaza by the farmers.

A large number of women were present among the protesting farmers.

After the news spread about the farmers gathering at the Chandimandir toll plaza, the Panchkula police got into action and reached the spot. The police had turned the areas near both the toll plazas into police cantonment.

Farmers’ leader Karam Singh said the brutal lathi-charge on the farmers in Karnal in which dozens of farmers received head injuries and legs were fractured, was high handedness on the part of the Manohar Lal Khattar government as the unarmed farmers were protesting peacefully.

At the Naggal toll plaza in Barwala too, farmers had blocked the traffic in protest. Hundreds of vehicles were struck in the jam thus causing problems to the commuters in the severe heat and humid conditions.

The traffic jam continued till the filing of this report.

Farm activists in and around Chandigarh will be blocking the Mullanpur barrier.