Farmers clash with police over panchayat land, 12 injured

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 6

Six persons were injured following a violent clash between police and protesters who opposed police action to vacate panchayat land at Hariau Kalan village in Patran today. A few policemen were also injured in the melee.

The police and administration officials reached Hariau Kalan village to take possession of a panchayat land allegedly occupied by some residents. The police and Powercom officials jointly carried out the operation armed with High Court orders that had asked the police to get the land vacated.

The police confirmed that when the team reached the village to take possession of the land, farmers and their family members opposed the move, despite the team showing them court orders. “Some of them turned violent and tried to forcibly stop the police from performing its duty following which we resorted to tear gas and lathicharge,” the police said.

“The farmers used sticks and bricks to oppose the police and resorted to stone pelting also,” they added.

However, farmers alleged that despite a stay on vacating the land, the administration was forcibly trying to vacate the land. “When our supporters and some unions intervened, the police resorted to lathicharge following which almost a dozen members were injured,” they alleged.

Till the filing of the report, the police had taken control of the land while many farmers were taken under arrest. Injured farmers and policemen were rushed to hospital.