Farmers blocking NH-44 lathicharged; 12 injured

Tribune News Service

Karnal, August 28

The Haryana Police resorted to a lathicharge at the Bastara toll plaza here after farmers tried to disrupt traffic on NH-44 in protest against a state-level BJP meeting being held in the city. Some of the farmers reportedly hurled stones at the police personnel. In the clash, 10 policemen and 12 farmers were injured.

Subsequently, several farmers’ leaders, including BKU (Charuni) state core committee member Jagdeep Singh Aulakh, were detained. They were let off later in the evening.

The police action triggered a statewide protest by farmers, who blocked the Panchkula-Sonepat national highway. State highways in Karnal, Hisar, Jind and Kaithal districts too were blocked. Asking the farmers to get their medico-legal reports (MLR) prepared, Charuni said: “The next course of action will be chalked out in Karnal on Monday. The farmers had assembled peacefully at the toll plaza, but the police used force against them.” Ganga Ram Punia, SP, however, said they had only used “mild force.”

Farmers said since the police had sealed all roads leading to the venue of the BJP meeting, they decided to assemble at Bastara. At 11 am, they headed for Karnal but were stopped by the police. “We had appealed to the farmers to express their point of view in a democratic way, but they did not do so, forcing the police to take action,” explained Karnal Range IGP Mamta Singh.

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It is unconstitutional to oppose any meeting. If they had to protest, it should have been peaceful. If they hurl stones and block road, the police will have to take action. We will take action against all those at fault — policemen or farmers. Manohar Lal Khattar, CM

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