Farmers Movement Archive

Appear before police with counsel: SKM

Tribune News Service Sonepat, February 13 The legal cell of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Saturday asked farmers, who are getting police notices, not to appear before the force directly and instead approach the legal cell for any assistance. Kuldeep Singh, a member of the SKM’s legal cell, alleged the Delhi Police had implicated innocent youths and other farmers in false cases to sabotage the agitation. He demanded a high-level judicial inquiry into the violence that took place during the tractor parade on January 26 and “false” cases slapped on farmers by the Delhi Police. Addressing a press conference, convener of the legal cell Prem Singh Bhangu said he along with other members — Raminder Patiala, Kiranjeet Sekhon, Inderjeet Singh, Harpal Singh and Vikas Ishar — visited the Tihar jail on Friday to meet farmers lodged there. They met Ranjit Singh of Kajampur village in Nawanshahr, who was arrested after the violence at the Singhu border on January 29, and Ranjit Singh of Tataryewala village in Moga district. As many as 11 youths from Tattaryewala village were lodged in the Tihar jail under Section 307 of the IPC, he added. Bhangu demanded that a retired judge of the Supreme Court or High Court should probe the incident. Another leader, Raminder Patiala, said the Delhi Police were issuing notices to farmers in Punjab, Haryana and UP under Section 160 of the CrPC and asking them to join the investigation. Describing it as a trap, he said, “We have come to know that the police are calling farmers by issuing notices and then slapping false cases on them.” He again appealed to the farmers not to appear before the Delhi Police directly and instead approach the legal panel. As per information, 122 farmers had so far been arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with 14 of the 44 FIRs registered on January 26. “We have the copies of only 22 FIRs,” he added. Raminder Patiala said eight farmers had been released on bail while two others would be released on Monday. “Now, our priority is to seek the release of the remaining 112 farmers. A panel of 150 advocates is working on it,” the farmer leader added. According to the legal panel, 16 persons — Haryana (nine), Rajasthan (one) Punjab (six) — are still missing. The panel has decided to extend monetary help to each farmer lodged in the jail. The money would be deposited in their bank accounts by Monday.

The Tribune

2021-02-14