Patiala: Another farmer dies of heart attack, unions to step up stir
Patiala, February 19
After a 46-year-old farmer of Patiala district became the third casualty of the farmers’ protest, farmer unions have decided to further intensify their protest. The first death was reported from the Shambhu border and the second from Khanauri.
All-India Kisan Federation (AIKF) president and SKM spokesperson Prem Singh Bhangu said all plazas in the state would be made toll-free from February 20 to 22 and round-the-clock demonstrations would be organised in front of the houses of BJP MPs, MLAs and district unit presidents for three days.
The deceased has been identified as Narinderpal Singh from Bathoi Kalan village of Patiala. He was staging a dharna along with other farmers outside the house of former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh here.
Vir Bhan, cousin of the deceased, said that Narinderpal had reached here on February 17. On Sunday night, when his health suddenly started to worsen, he asked his fellow farmers to take him back to the village. On the way to the village, his condition deteriorated. Narindrapal was rushed to Government Rajindra Hospital, where the doctors declared him dead.
Medical Superintendent at Government Rajindra Hospital Dr HS Rekhi said that, “The farmer was brought to the hospital late on Sunday. He died of a heart attack. His body has been kept in the mortuary and a post-mortem will be conducted soon, after which the body will be handed over to the family.” The deceased is survived by two daughters and a son.
Bhan said that Narinderpal was a marginal farmer and owned four acres and was under a Rs 12 lakh debt. “He was under stress as he lost his paddy crop in the floods last year. Despite girdawari, he did not receive a single penny of compensation,” he added.
Union leaders, including BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, said that the union had decided against the post-mortem and would not cremate the body until the government assures waiving of his entire loan. Besides, Rs 10 lakh compensation and job for one member of the family should be offered, he demanded.
