Farmers Movement Archive

Attack on Haryana CM’s convoy: 13 farmers accused of murder bid

AMBALA: Since Tuesday night’s protest against Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, police have booked 13 farmers of this district associated with BKU (Charuni) for attempt to murder, rioting, and damaging public property. In his complaint lodged at 11.40pm in the city police station, head constable Gurjant Singh named Bagga of Jalbera village, Dara Singh of Dhurala, Chahat Chauhan ‘Nanu’ of Ambala, Bhura of Kurbanpur, Jasmeet Hundal of Badola, Bai Ji of Dhurkada, Jasbir of Balana, Kaka, Jitender, Montu, and Ajay of Kaulan, Roni of Jandali, Jaspal Singh of Bara, and a few others. The Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act was also applied. The police complaint states: “On December 22, the Haryana CM was to address public meetings in Ambala. The first was at Shagun Palace near Aggarsain Chowk. The unions protesting against central farm laws gathered in the city and we received a secret input that they could harm the CM and other dignitaries. We warned the protesters repeatedly to stay peaceful.” The head constable reported that: “The farmers marched from New Grain Market to Aggarsain Chowk with black flags and police tried to pacify them. The 13 rioters were in the forefront, raising slogans. They scuffled with the cops and obstructed the government servants. When the CM’s convoy passed the intersection, they blocked the pilot car and damaged its bonnet. Police diverted the convoy to a bridge but the protesters intercepted the cops and tried to kill them. We got the CM’s convoy out with difficulty. Three of its other vehicles were damaged.” Ambala City station house officer (SHO) inspector Ram Kumar said: “Miscreants had infiltrated the farmers and we identified them from the available evidence. These unrest makers have nothing to do with any farm union. We’ll arrest them after further verification.” Harkesh Singh Mohri of the BKU Haryana (Charuni), who was leading the protesters, said: “Among the 13 accused farmers, Bhura, Jasmeet Hundal and Chahat Chauhan are our old party workers, who were 150 feet from the CM’s convoy. The rest are their relatives. This is yet another false case to suppress the agitation. Instead of listening to the farmers and reasoning with the Prime Minister, the CM is campaigning for the elections—this when 40 farmers have died in the agitation, while some have committed suicide.”

The Times of India

2020-12-24

Chandigarh