Sriganganagar, December 6
One more person was killed today while curfew was clamped in a fourth border town as tension mounted in violence-hit north-west Rajasthan, rocked by a farmers’ agitation for canal waters for over two months now.Official sources said Hazur Singh (50) was killed in a stampede, which was caused when the police used water canons on protesters at 17 KYD village near Khajuwala in Bikaner district. The CPI (M), on the other hand, claimed that he was killed in police firing.
Five persons were killed in police action on the agitators earlier on October 26 and 27.
Curfew was clamped at Khajuwala this afternoon in addition to Anupgarh, Rawala and Gharsana in Sriganganagar district where no relaxation was given today.
Protesting farmers set fire to a police vehicle, causing injuries to at least six policemen, the sources said. The dispute arose when police stopped farmers on their way to Khajuwala for a protest meeting.
The police used water canons, batons, lobbed teargas shells and fired in the air to disperse the mob. Divisional Commissioner Srimat Pande has reached Khajuwala. Two additional companies of the Special Task Force have also rushed to the area.
The Kisan-Mazdoor-Vyapari Sangharsh Samiti, spearheading the agitation, has called for a road blockade in entire Sriganganagar district against the arrest of its three top leaders under the National Security Act (NSA).
More than 200 protestors were detained at Raisingnagar today, the police said.
Hundreds of pro-CPI (M) Students Federation of India activists scuffled first with army jawans and then policemen when they attempted to put up a blockade on a highway at Nohar in Hanumangarh district, where a convoy of Army trucks was passing through, in solidarity with the agitating farmers.
The students pelted stone at the police when it tried to remove the blockades.
The police resorted to
lathicharge to push away the students. — PTI
