Farmers protest police inaction over Gang Canal water theft

Hundreds of farmers gathered at Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Sriganganagar, organising a meeting before marching to the District Collectorate to stage a dharna.

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The protest was in response to the police’s inaction regarding the ongoing water thefts from the Gang Canal. The farmers submitted a memorandum to the District Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police, accusing the authorities of failing to take action against those stealing canal water.

The farmers alleged that the thefts were being carried out with the support of administrative, departmental, and police officials. They further claimed that the thieves had filed a case against the farmers who caught them in the act.

The protestors demanded the cancellation of the FIR filed by the alleged water thieves against the farmers who had apprehended them red-handed.

The controversy began when Harpreet Singh Dhillon, president of the Water Consumer Forum, and his team caught individuals stealing water from the F branch canal of the Gang Canal on the night of December 3-4.

In response, a case was filed against the alleged thieves by Assistant Engineer Rekha Meena, accusing them of theft, damaging government property, and assaulting the farmers who intervened.

Harvinder Singh Gill, chairman of the Gang Canal Project, revealed that over 550 water theft cases were detected in the past year, with offenders using illegal pipes and equipment.

However, he criticised the police for not taking any action for eight months, and while a challan was submitted against the suspects on December 31, further action has been delayed. Gill warned that such delays would not be tolerated.