Farmers Movement Archive

Police ‘brutality’ against protesters echoes in Punjab Vidhan Sabha

Chandigarh, March 5The issue of alleged police brutality against farm protesters during the Delhi agitation echoed in the Vidhan Sabha today. MLAs from various parties, including the Congress, SAD and AAP, pointed out alleged brutality against Nodeep Kaur, Shiv Kumar and Ranjit Singh.SAD’s Bikram Singh Majithia demanded institution of a House committee to look into the “torture” of human rights activists and “insult” to articles of faith. He demanded passing of a resolution condemning the Haryana Government and Delhi Jails Minister Satyendra Jain.Taking up the issue during zero hour, Majithia said it was outrageous that the Sonepat police “tortured” activists, including Nodeep Kaur and Shiv Kumar. He said Nodeep had claimed how both Kumar and she had been tortured by the Sonepat police and later “mistreated” in the Delhi jail.Majithia pointed out that articles of faith of Sikh youth, arrested in connection with the January 26 incidents, had been insulted at the Tihar jail, and AAP minister Jain was directly responsible for it.He said law officers of Delhi Government’s Advocate General office had gone on to oppose the bail applications of the youth. The House Committee should also look into barbarity inflicted on Sikh youth Ranjit Singh by the Delhi Police at the Singhu border, he added. Former Leader of the Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira too raised the issue, alleging Ranjit was picked up from a farmers’ camp and taken into custody with help of RSS and BJP men.SAD’s Pawan Kumar Tinu demanded compensation for farmers and labourers who died during the protest, besides government jobs for their children and waiver of loans. Congress MLA Angad Singh said legal help should be extended through the Advocate General’s office to those arrested on January 26.

The Tribune

2021-03-06