Amritsar, February 21
A farmer was killed when the police lathi-charged activists of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee (KSC) this evening. The farmers were protesting outside the office of the Chief Engineer, PSPCL, virtually holding Executive Engineer SN Mahi and several other officials hostage.

A heavy police contingent headed by three Additional DCP-rank officials was called. Efforts were made to persuade the farmers to release the officials, but they remained defiant. The police then used tear gas shells and lathi-charged the protesters. The farmers retaliated, attacking policemen with stones and sticks. A woman, identified as Swaran Kaur of Kaler Ghuman village, was injured. She was admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital.

Farmers' leader Sawinder Singh Chutala claimed a number of farmers had been injured. He said his colleagues Satnam Singh Pannu, Sarwan Singh Pandher and Sikander Singh Samra were among those arrested.

Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh said more than 12 policemen had been injured. He claimed there was no injury mark on the body of the deceased farmer. The farmers, who have been on an indefinite dharna, are demanding that power rates be slashed to Re 1 per unit and free connections be given to those with land-holding less than five acres.