Farmers Movement Archive

Sikar FIR catches up with BKU man held over protest

Chandigarh: Rajasthan police have taken farmer leader Ravi Azad on production warrant in connection with a case related to extortion and defamation registered against him in Sikar district. He is in Bhiwani jail at present. Ravi, allegedly a youth leader of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), was taken into custody on Tuesday evening by Sikar police after producing the warrant issued by a Sikar court to jail superintendent, Bhiwani. A case against Azad was registered by Rajasthan police on March 20 under sections 384 and 501 of IPC in a case of extortion and defamation through social media of a petrol pump owner in Sikar. Ravi was earlier arrested by the Bhiwani police for provocation to disturb peace under sections 153, 153A, 504, 505 of IPC on March 31 and was lodged in Bhiwani Jail. He was accused of inciting violence and rioting in the name of farmers’ agitation. According to senior police officers, Ravi had “criminal antecedents” as he was accused of harassing a 25-year old man named Deepak of Behal town in Bhiwani district thorough social media, which led to the victim committing suicide. In this regard, an FIR was registered on October 25, 2017 against him in Behal police station. Later, another FIR under sections 147, 149, 283 was registered against him for rioting and obstructions of road in Tosham police station on April 6, 2018 and he was facing trial in that case. Ravi was bound under section 107 CrPC for keeping peace in the area but he “routinely flouted” the conditions of the order of the local magistrate, said a policeman of Bhiwani district. Ravi was active in the ongoing farmers’ protest against the Centre’s three farm laws. He had been leading several protests against legislators in Bhiwani district.

The Times of India

2021-04-08

Chandigarh