Farmers block NH-5 near Ferozepur admn complex

Hundreds of farmers under the banner of Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) today blocked NH-5 in front of the District Administrative Complex (DAC), due to which the main entry and exit to the DC office remained blocked. These protesters have been sitting on dharna in front of the DAC for the last 75 days to express resentment against the imposition of Section 145 on a chunk of land along the Indo-Pakistan border. This prevents them from entering their fields and do farming on this land situated across the barbed wire fencing.

Earlier, the protesters were reportedly given assurance by the administration that the issue would be resolved. However, the farmer union members claimed that they were not called for any meeting, following which the agitated union members had blocked the national highway near octroi post no. 7, the main entry point to Ferozepur, yesterday.

Continuing with their protest, the enraged protesters today blocked the main entrance of the DC office, due to which even the officials were not able to enter or exit through the main gate, while the visitors had to bear the brunt.

Gurmit Singh Ghorechakk, district president, BKU (Ekta Sidhupur), said the administration had been backing out of its promise. “We were given an assurance that all our demands would be accepted on Tuesday, but nothing moved beyond lip service,” he added. Earlier, we were protesting peacefully, but now we have decided to block the roads, to make ourselves heard,” said Gurmit.

A protester, Dara Singh (63), who has been sitting on hunger strike since August 20, is reportedly in critical condition. Earlier when his condition deteriorate, the district administration took him to the Civil Hospital, from where he was further taken to AIIMS, Bathinda.

“If anything happens to Dara, the government will be responsible,” he added. Due to the protest, hundreds of commuters, including schoolchildren and others, had to suffer as chaos prevailed on all roads.