Farmers, cops clash near BJP event

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, January 3

Farmers clashed with the police near the Sangrur-Patiala bypass when the latter tried to stop them from marching towards the venue of a meeting of BJP leaders being presided over by party’s Punjab chief Ashwani Sharma. Farmers broke the first barricade but when they tried to break the second one, a scuffle ensued causing injuries to two farmers and three cops.

“The police must register an FIR against the state BJP chief for causing tension in Sangrur deliberately by calling a meeting despite being aware that we will not allow it. Two farmers have suffered injuries and are under treatment. We will keep opposing the visits of BJP leaders,” said Gobindar Singh Mangwal, BKU (Ugrahan) Sangrur block president.

To prevent any trouble, senior police officers from Patiala were also deployed but the problem started when protesting members of various organisations tried to move towards the residence of Sangrur BJP chief Randeep Deol after breaking the first barricade.

“The Congress government has been supporting BJP leaders rather than banning their meetings. It shows that Congress and BJP are two sides of the same coin,” said Jasdeep Singh, a leader of the Kirti Kisan Union.

Farmer Gurpreet Singh and another protester along with Inspector Harwinder Singh (Training School) and Constables Harpreet Singh and Beant Singh have suffered injuries.

During the meeting, Ashwani Sharma said peaceful protest was a democratic right, but some miscreants were creating problems for them.

“In a democracy, we have the right to conduct meetings and farmers have the right to protest, but our political opponents are creating problems for us,” he said.

After a meeting at the residence of Deol, Sharma also went to the house of another BJP leader Satwant Singh Punia at Gurdaspura, where two farmers raised slogans against the BJP.

Sangrur SSP Vivek Sheel Soni said farmers had a scuffle with cops. “Our officers had a narrow escape as some farmers tried to run over the cops after breaking the first barricade. Further investigations are on,” Soni said.

State BJP chief faces protest in Moga

State BJP president Ashwani Sharma faced stiff opposition in Moga from farmers during his visit to district president Vinay Sharma’s house. The farmers raised slogans against the BJP leadership and showed black flags. Reacting to the incidents, the BJP state chief termed the protests a conspiracy by the Congress

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.