Agriculture officials protest attack on colleagues

Our Correspondent
Jalandhar, June 12

The Agriculture Technocrats Action Committee (ATAC) today held a protest outside the office of District Agriculture Officer (DAO) demanding stringent action against those who attacked the officials of the Agriculture Department in Ludhiana near Sahnewal earlier this week.

Dr Jaswant Rai, President Agriculture Officer Association Jalandhar, said that all the associations of the agriculture department in all the districts of the state under the banner of ATAC, have decided to go on indefinite ‘Kalam Chod’ protest starting today.

“We would not do any official work until the arrests of the offenders. Three officers including a woman officer were attacked with a hoe and they also damaged the car in which the officials reached there”, Dr Rai said, adding that the officers are available to assist farmers, but will not perform any official work.

Dr Kuldeep Singh, Regional Seed Certification Officer, said the officials were on government duty to stop the farmers from sowing paddy before the stipulated date which was June 10. Instead of complying with the move, the farmer on the field along with others attacked them.

Since no arrests have been made so far, the members will intensify the protest if the action is not taken soon. “The law and order situation is deteriorating. A team of agriculture officials is attacked and all three have received injuries and the offenders are roaming free. We demand justice and a strict action from the government”, said Surinder Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer.