Farmers Movement Archive

In Ludhiana, deceased farmer’s family refuses to cremate body, demands relief, waiver

Raikot, December 23The Jangpur village panchayat, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) and a landless peasant family have refused to cremate the body of Harminder Singh Rai, a young farmer who was killed in an accident while returning from Tikri border on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, till their demands are accepted by the administration.Their demands include registration of an FIR, Rs 10 lakh compensation for the aggrieved family, waiver of loans and a government job for the widow of Rai.BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) unit president Tejinder Singh said: “We have already submitted a representation to the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, but, unfortunately, no action has been taken in the matter yet.”He stressed villagers led by sarpanch Amarjit Singh and Baljinder Singh (brother of the deceased) were firms on their demands. Rai, a young landless farmer of Jangpur village in Ludhiana, who along with his associates had been protesting at Tikri border, succumbed to injuries after his motorcycle collided with a stray animal near Dhanaula. Pillion rider Gurjit Singh also sustained serious injuries in the incident.Declaring him a martyr, villagers held “anti-farmer policies” of the Central Government responsible for the farmer’s death. The deceased farmer was running a welding workshop to supplement the income of his family.He had been camping at Tikri border ever since the “Delhi Chalo” began on November 26 and was returning home on the fateful night.

The Tribune

2020-12-24