Chapra (Karnal), June 15
Three farmers were killed and 25 injured in a group clash between the farmers of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh adjoining the Yamuna here in Karnal district this afternoon following dispute over proprietary rights on irrigated land.
As per the reports available from the spot, as many as 40 farmers particularly belonging to the Thakur community of Nai Majra village of Saharanpur district (Uttar Pradesh) intruded the territory of Haryana under the protection of the Uttar Pradesh Police in Chapra village of Karnal district (Haryana) and started destroying the standing sugarcane crop in 40 acres of land mostly belonging to the Muslim community.
When the farmers of Chapra came to know about the incident they gathered and reached the spot along with firearms. On seeing them, the farmers of UP opened fire at them. During the group clash, three farmers died on the spot while 25 were injured.
Those who died were identified as Sahil and Tahid, both of Chapra village (Haryana), and Kulu Ram of Nai Majra village (UP). At least 20 farmers of Chapra village were injured, of whom two were critical and had been referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. Another five persons were injured from the other side (UP). One was said to be critical.
Few of the injured farmers from Chapra village had been identified as Kazim, Ali Haider, Hussain Abbas, Shakilu, Tanveer and Sahid. Others were yet to be identified officially. The District Magistrate of Karnal, Mr R.S. Doon, and the SP of Karnal, Mr Vikas Arora, who reached the spot confirmed that 20 persons of Chapra village were injured in the clash.
Mr Doon said that he had directed the revenue authorities to do the demarcation of land immediately on Wednesday and report to the DM's office within 24 hours. The police will
investigate into the whole incident and take action accordingly. Senior revenue and police officials of Saharanpur also reached the spot. Officials from both sides held a meeting on the spot and agreed upon fresh demarcation of land.
The residents of Chapra village alleged that the UP police also opened fire at them along with the farmers of the other side. "Hamare par UP police ne bhi milkar firing ki hai", said an old
lady of the village. When asked about whether the UP police role was negative, Mr Doon said that it could not be ascertained at the moment. “The facts will come out from the probe being conducted by our police,” he said.
During the preliminary investigations conducted by the district administration of Karnal in the evening it was found that the land dispute was between the villages of Chapra (Haryana) and Brhaman Majra (UP) but the farmers from another village, Nai Majra of UP, sharing no boundary with Haryana came to destroy the standing crop on this side. None of the farmers from Brahman majra were involved in the group clash, confirmed the DM.
Meanwhile, the situation was said to be under control. Heavy police has been deployed on both sides to avoid any further incident.
