‘Dilli Chalo’ protest: Another Punjab farmer dies, sixth in 15 days

Mohit Khanna

Patiala, February 27

Another farmer, who was protesting at the Khanauri border, died after suffering a heart attack at the Government Rajindra Hospital here on Tuesday. According to representatives of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Krantikari), its activist Karnail Singh (62) from Arno Khurd village near Patran died on Monday morning.

With Karnail’s death, six farmers have died during the ongoing ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest at the Punjab-Haryana border in the last 15 days. According to a statement issued by BKU (Krantikari) chairman Surjeet Singh Phul, Karnail got lung infection due to smoke of a tear gas shell that was fired by the Haryana Police at protesters on the Khanauri border on February 21. A marginal farmer, Karnail is survived by wife, two sons and three daughters. The representatives of the union said Karnail owned 1.5 acres and had a debt of around Rs 8 lakh.

Karnail’s youngest son Gurpreet Singh said his father had left the house to join a dharna on February 13.

“During the protest on February 21, a tear gas shall exploded near him. After inhaling the gas, he developed serious breathing issues. Many other farmers were also injured in the incident.

Shubhkaran Singh (21) was also shot dead during the protest,” said Gurpreet.

BKU Sidhupur’s spokesperson Gurdeep Singh said Karnail kept taking medicine, but refused to return from the protest site. On Monday, Karnail’s condition deteriorated following which he was rushed to a hospital in Patran from where he was referred to the Rajindra Hospital in Patiala where he died,” said Gurdeep.

Earlier on February 14, Gyan Singh (63) of Chacheki village of Gurdaspur, died after suffering a heart attack at the Shambhu border. On February 18, Manjit Singh (72) of Patiala, also died due to a heart attack at the Khanauri border. Gyan Singh’s family, too, had complained that he had fallen ill after inhaling tear gas.

On February 18 evening, Narinder Pal Singh (43) from a village in Patiala passed away due to a heart attack while on his way back from a dharna outside BJP leader Capt Amarinder Singh’s house in Patiala.

On February 22, Darshan Singh (62) of Amargarh village of Bathinda district, died following a cardiac arrest at the Khanauri border. He had joined the dharna on February 12 after wedding of his son on February 6.

Under debt of Rs 8 lakh

A marginal farmer, Karnail Singh is survived by wife, two sons and three daughters. Union leaders said Karnail owned 1.5 acres and had a debt of around Rs 8 lakh.