Another Delhi march attempt by farmers foiled, 17 hurt

Protesting farmers suspended their Delhi march for the day after 17 of them were injured in teargas shelling and use of water cannons by the Haryana Police and paramilitary forces at the Punjab-Haryana border at Shambhu on Saturday.

The farmers, who kept pushing on to cross the border for nearly three hours, suspended their march as the count of the injured rose.

Amid the protest, farmer Jodh Singh (55), hailing from Rattan Kheri village of Khanna, tried to end his life by consuming poison. He was rushed to Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala where his condition was stated to be critical. Farm union leaders claimed that Jodh Singh took the extreme step as he was upset over “stern” action being taken by the police against the farmers. On the next course of action, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have announced a ‘tractor march’ in other states except Punjab on December 16. A ‘rail roko’ protest will be held on December 18 from 12 noon to 3 pm in Punjab.

Farmers’ two earlier attempts — on December 6 and December 8 — to cross the border were also foiled by the security forces. As many as 50 farmers have been injured in the three attempts.

Farmers’ leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said two forums had decided to call back ‘Marjeevda jatha’. Accusing the Haryana Police of using “expired” tear gas shells on peaceful protesters, he claimed polluted water from the Ghaggar was used in the water cannons. He also blamed security personnel of using rubber bullets against the protesters. “We suspect the cops have been using long-range acoustic devices to disperse the farmers,” said Pandher.

Another leader Guramneet Singh Mangat claimed farmer Sukhdev Singh of Rajpura lost vision of the right eye after being hit by a rubber bullet. “Raj Kumar from Haryana suffered a fracture after a rubber bullet hit his foot,” he claimed.

DSP, Ambala Cantt, Rajat Gulia said a police officer was engaged in talks with farmers when one of the protesters tried to break the iron fencing by using a hook that was attached to a rope. Following this, water cannons were used against the protesters, he said. He refuted the claim of farmers that a chemical was used in the water cannon.

Slamming the protest, BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliwal, “When Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria has invited the farmers’ leaders for a dialogue, the protest march is merely an attempt to politicise the issue.”

Besides seeking a legal guarantee of MSP for crops, the farmers are demanding a debt waiver, pension, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.