Farmers Movement Archive

Farmer commits suicide, another makes failed bid at protest site

FEROZEPUR/TARN TARAN/BATHINDA: A Ferozepur farmer, who had returned home at Karikalan village after 10 days of protest on the Delhi border against the Centre’s agriculture laws, committed suicide on Sunday night even as another made a failed attempt by consuming some poisonous substance at the Singhu border on Monday. Disturbed by these incidents, coming close on the heels of suicide by a young farmer from Bathinda on Sunday and Sikh preacher Sant Baba Ram Singh last week, farmer organisation BKU (Ekta Dakaunda) has urged farmers not to take such extreme steps and stay involved in the struggle to force the Centre to repeal the agriculture laws. Kulbir Singh (50), had returned to Karikalan on Saturday and his body was found hanging from a tree in his fields on Monday morning. Baljit, a fellow farmer who had accompanied Kulbir from Singhu after 10 days of protest there, said he was upset with the plight of protesting farmers, often breaking down at the dharna site. Niranjan Singh (77), who hails from Bathal Bhaikae village in Tarn Taran district, made a futile suicide attempt by swallowing poison at Singhu border on Monday and was admitted to a hospital in Rohtak. His condition is now stable. In his suicide note, Niranjan wrote that he could not bear to see his fellow brothers, sisters and children braving the winter cold on roads and rail tracks. “Mudatay gujri hai hamay gam sehtaey huae, sharam si aati hai is watan ko watan kehtay (We have braved adversity for long, feel ashamed to call this country my country),” he wrote.

The Times of India

2020-12-22

India