‘Dilli Chalo’ march: In 20 days of stir, 6 Punjab farmers dead, but no deal in sight with Centre

Mohit Khanna

Patiala, March 2

With the ‘Dilli Chalo’ march entering the 20th day, the protest at Shambhu and Khanauri borders has witnessed six deaths, with Shubhkaran being ‘shot dead’ and over 500 farmers sustaining injuries.

Fatalities so far

• Karnail Singh (62) of Arno village in Patiala district died on February 26
• Gyan Singh (63) of Chacheki village in Gurdaspur district died on February 14
• Manjit Singh (72) of Patiala district died on February 18
• Narinderpal Singh (43) of Patiala district died on February 20.
• Shubhkaran Singh of Balloh village in Bathinda district died on February 21
• Gurjant Singh (23) of Mansoordeva in Ferozepur district died in an accident on February 23

Teni gets ticket, farmers irked

The allocation of Lok Sabha ticket to BJP leader Ajay Mishra Teni has irked the protesting farm union leaders sitting at Shambhu and Khanauri borders. Teni’s son Ashish is accused of mowing down four farmers at Lakhimpur Kheri in 2021.

Despite the deaths and injuries to hundreds of farmers, the unions protesting under the banner of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) are yet to bargain a favourable deal with the Centre.

However, the protest has received global attention with ministers in England and Canada hailing from Sikh diaspora raising the issue in the parliament and assembly constituency.

After Subhkaran’s death, the alleged assault on Pritpal Singh, who has sustained multiple injuries and currently undergoing treatment at the PGI, has become the latest issue of confrontation between farmers and the Haryana Police, with farmer leaders demanding the registration of a kidnapping case against the Haryana cops for allegedly capturing and assaulting Pritpal.

After Shubhkaran’s death and assault on Pritpal it has been decided to keep youngsters away from direct confrontation with security forces at Haryana.

“Never before any democratically elected government had opened fire on peacefully protesting farmers. We are fighting for our right and not here to get our children killed,” said BKU Sidhupur chief Jagjit Singh Dallewal.

He said over 100 suffered pellet injuries. Nearly, 250 farmers are getting the medico-legal certificates, with some losing vision and sustaining eye and limb injuries due to explosion of tear gas shells.

Meanwhile, a delegation of famer leaders from the SKM (Non-Political) and KMM reached Balloh village in Bathinda to check arrangements for the bhog ceremony of Shubhkaran. They reiterated their decision on intensifying the protest and start the march from alternative routes to reach the National Capital.

Meanwhile, the protesting farmers at Shambhu border were seen ducked under tarpaulin covers as the region witnessed heavy rain today. Many social activists reached the protest site and offered langar to the farmers.