Bhai Bakhtaur (Bathinda), October 1
More than 12 farmers were seriously injured when the police resorted to a lathicharge as the farmers were trying to stage a dharna at a level crossing on the Bathinda-Delhi section to lodge their protest against the refusal of the district administration to hand over the body of Gurdev Singh, an activist of the BKU-Ekta (Ugrahan) group, who died last night after he along with some others were hit by a goods train while they were trying to stop it.

Eight policemen also suffered injuries when they were allegedly attacked by activists of the BKU-Ekta (Ugrahan) group when they tried to stop them from sitting on the tracks. The farmers damaged the Gypsy of Mr S.P. Singh Bawa, AIG, General Railway Police.

In the Bathinda Civil Hospital, leaders of the BKU (Ugrahan) and representatives of students’ union also faced the wrath of the police when they insisted that they should be handed over the body for cremation. They were reportedly beaten up and bundled into vehicles and taken to various police stations.

Two criminal cases have been registered against some farmers’ leaders. Another criminal case was registered against Mr Joginder Singh Ugrahan and others for creating hooliganism in the hospital. So far, the police has arrested 13 persons.

Tension at the Civil Hospital, heavily barricaded by the police since morning, started building when Mr Ugrahan asked civil and police officials to hand over the body to the organisation headed by him as the victim belonged to it after a post-mortem examination.