Three farmers arrested in Shimla, freed on bail
Tribune News Service
Shimla, January 19
Commotion was created on The Ridge here today as the police arrested three farmers from Mohali and Chandigarh, who had come here from the Singhu border to seek the public support against the farm laws. They were arrested as soon as they were sighted on The Ridge.
“We are only three persons and talking about the farm laws. We did not raise any slogans and it is the infringement of the right to freedom of expression. Are we living in free democratic India?,” said one of the farmers Harpreet Singh, while he was being dragged by the police.
Journalists roughed up
- Mediapersons, covering the incident of farmers being dragged to Sadar police station, were manhandled and roughed up by the police. However, the matter was closed after the policemen tendered an apology.
Following a tip-off that some persons from outside the state were holding a protest and indulging in anti-social activities on The Ridge, the police took preventive measures and arrested them, said SP, Shimla, Mohit Chawla.
There were apprehensions that the farmers would violate the prohibitory orders and disturb peace on The Ridge and The Mall where a procession or meeting was prohibited, he said and added that the trio had not sought any permission from the administration or the police.
Condemning the action of the police, Congress and CITU leaders demanded their immediate release and accused the state government of resorting to unconstitutional practices to crush the farmer agitation.
HPCC president Kuldeep Rathore, who reached Sadar police station in support of the farmers, termed the action undemocratic and illegal and said this was the violation of the fundamental rights. The farmers were produced before the SDM and granted bail. Their credentials were being checked.
