Rajpura Siege: Farmers block NH, want FIR quashed
Tribune News Service
Patiala, July 13
Commuters travelling on the Amritsar-Delhi and Bathinda-Chandigarh national highways had a harrowing time today after farmer unions held a six-hour-long dharna and blocked all traffic movement.
Step up security at party events: BJP
- The BJP on Tuesday protested against the government and the Patiala district administration, blaming them for the heckling by members of farmer organisations
- A delegation of local BJP workers met the DIG and the SSP, urging them to step up security at political events organised by the party
Withdraw case: SKM leader
Chandigarh: Samyukt Kisan Morcha leader Prem Singh Bhangu has condemned the registration of an FIR against farmers in Rajpura. He warned the BJP leaders against using abusive language or threatening farmers. Bhangu, who is also president of the All-India Kisan Federation, demanded immediate withdrawal of the case.
The farmers lifted the blockade after the police “let off” the persons who were booked in the Rajpura incident in which a policeman was injured and BJP workers were roughed up and held hostage.
The dharna by farmers at Gagan Chowk in Rajpura started around 11 am. Even the adjoining roads from where the traffic was diverted were also blocked by protesters. Long traffic snarls were witnessed with a majority of tourists returning from Himachal Pradesh and those headed to the hills and Chandigarh got stuck.
“Till the police cancel the FIR and release all nine members of our unions, who have been rounded up in connection with the Rajpura incident, we will not allow any traffic movement,” said the agitators. The police had a tough time managing traffic. It was only around 6 pm when the Rajpura DSP, along with other officers, accepted their demand of making no arrests in the case, the traffic movement was allowed.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Sunday had asked the DGP and the Patiala SSP to personally ensure the safe exit of BJP leaders and workers allegedly detained at a house in Rajpura by farm activists.
The leaders were shifted to safety under heavy police presence on Monday morning after almost 12 hours. The Rajpura police registered an FIR against unidentified protesters for attacking cops as they escorted the BJP leaders to safety. Scores of farmers had on Sunday laid siege to a BJP worker’s house in Rajpura, where several party leaders, including Punjab unit general secretary Subhash Sharma and Patiala in charge Bhupesh Aggarwal, were present.
