Storm wreaks havoc on farmers’ camp at Shahjahanpur border

Tribune News Service

Rewari, May 30

Storm coupled with rain wreaked havoc on Kheri-Shahjahanpur border last evening by uprooting 90 per cent of huts and tents of farmers camping there for over five months in protest against the three farm laws.

The protesters spent a sleepless night in the open as the storm also damaged their power connections and caused injuries to three of them. The farmers protected themselves by taking shelter in nearby dhabas and other concrete structures. The bamboo used in tents/huts, cots (charpai), chairs, loudspeakers, fans, coolers, hookahs, utensils etc were later found scattered on the Delhi-Jaipur highway and in nearby fields.

“We were sitting in our tent and planning for the next day when the storm started. We immediately came out and took shelter in a dhaba but one of our companions remained inside and suffered injuries as the tent fell on him. Later, he was taken to a hospital,” said Raghubir Singh, a leader of All-India Kisan Sabha.

He said:“The food items were safe as these were kept in a concrete structure. Farmers spent the night taking stock of the situation and sitting on cots in the open.”

Dharambir, another farmer, said five persons were inside the hut when the storm blew away the roof. “Thereafter, we saw cots and other things moving towards us with the force of the storm. It forced us to search for a safer place immediately,” he said, adding that everything had been demolished but luckily, no one suffered serious injuries.

Meanwhile, BKU leader Ram Kisan Mehlawat said the farmers had started rebuilding their makeshift abode to continue the protest.

“The storm caused extensive damage to our camps. No tent/hut was left with a roof. It has broken our structures, but not spirit. We have faced adversities from the first day and will overcome this one too. We appeal to all well-wishers of this movement to support us in springing back on our feet,” said Yogendra Yadav, a senior farm leader.