Activists gherao police station over crackdown on farmers

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 11

Labourers and activists under the Pendu Mazdoor Union Punjab gheraoed the Karatapur police station till 1.30 am on Wednesday against the crackdown on Dalit farmers and landless labourers struggling for their share, reserved in panchayat lands and residential plots.

Labourers alleged that efforts were being made to render their struggle at the Hasanmunda village inconsequential. They said the protest was held against an attack on a 70-year old elderly at the village on Tuesday evening.

Deputy Police Captain Kartarpur Digvijay Kapila assured of strict action against the attackers following which the gherao ended in the wee hours on Wednesday. Addressing those on dharna, Pendu Mazdoor Union district secretary Kashmir Singh Ghugshore said if the persons responsible for the attack on the activist at the Hasamunda village were not booked, then the Kartarpur police station shall be gheraoed again on July 15.

He demanded the arrest of those responsible for attacking Kartarpur activist Sukhwinder Kaur under Sections 307, 452 and 354 of the IPC. He also demanded action on the application submitted to the police regarding incidents which happened on June 2 and June 28 and strict action against those responsible for attacking an old man Gyan Singh on Tuesday evening.

They said tension prevailed in many villages due to inaction against attackers. He demanded residential plots for the needy farmers and the share in panchayat lands for Dalits. He said the PMU activists had been protesting against fake auctions of panchayati lands at the Hasanmunda village since June 1.

He also added that administration is robbing Dalits and peasants of their rightful land. They demanded that the land be provided to the labourers and peasants.