Farmers Movement Archive

Tohana standoff intensifies: 1 FIR yet to be withdrawn, 2 still in jail

Hisar: The standoff between farm activists and Haryana government in Tohana town of Haryana’s Fatehabad district intensified on Sunday, even as JJP MLA Devendra Babli had a day before apologised to the farmers and withdrawn complaints in two FIRs registered at Tohana police station. In the latest showdown, farmers gathered around Tohana Sadar police station on Sunday to seek the withdrawal of a third FIR and release of two SKM activists, Ravi Azad and Vikas Sisar, arrested in connection with the case. The third FIR has been registered on a complaint by a police personnel, so government permission is required for withdrawing it. Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is spearheading protests against the three farm laws passed by the Centre last year, described Babli’s apology as “perfunctory”, or insincere. The three FIRs had been registered after a clash had taken place between the Tohana MLA’s staff and farm activists. While the MLA alleged that farm activists pelted stones at his vehicle and injured his private secretary, farmers have accused the legislator of using profanities for them. SKM said an appeal had been made to farm unions across Haryana to surround all police stations by staging protests on Monday to pressure the government to withdraw the FIRs and release its arrested activists. It has also appealed to farmers from Sirsa, Fatehabad, Jind and Hisar to assemble in large numbers at Tohana Sadar police station. On Saturday, SKM leader Yogendra Yadav met district administration officials on behalf of farmers and held meetings which lasted four hours, but to no avail. Farm leaders have appealed to activists to start camping at Tohana Sadar police staton, like the protests on the borders of Delhi, by parking tractor-trolleys and building huts in front of the police station. BKU Haryana (Charuni) gave a call to allf armers protest outside all the police stations in Haryana up to 4 pm on Monday. The message has also been circulated in the district-level groups of farm union and the farmers would be protesting outside the police stations in Haryana. On Saturday, Babli apologised to farmers and said he had forgiven those who hurt him. After this, the way was cleared for the cancellation of the two FIRs registered at Tohana City police station. However, the FIR at Tohana Sadar police station was registered on June 3 and now require’s the government’s consent. Farmers had started talks with the administration from Saturday night, but the deadlock is yet to be broken. As per sources in district administration, there was no possibility of a solution on a Sunday as the matter was directly related to the government. Fatehabad deputy commissioner Narhari Singh Bangar said talks were going on with farmers. Sources in Fatehabad district administration said the dismissal of the FIR registered at Tohana Sadar police station was similar to the case in Hisar, where a similar case was withdraw. In that case, however, farmer leaders promised not to indulge in violence in future. In Fatehabad, if the police had not reached the house of JJP MLA Devendra Babli, there could have been violence, said the sources. “When farm leaders did not live up to the promises made earlier, how can they believe them now?” said sources. Case can be withdrawn under section 321 of CrPC There is a provision in Section 321 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to withdraw such cases. On behalf of the government, the district attorney, deputy district attorney or assistant district attorney can file an application in the court and then the court decides on it at its discretion. Under this provision, the FIR lodged against many, including Hisar MLA Kamal Gupta (the FIR lodged during the demonstration at Jindal House during the Congress government), was withdrawn by the government. Apart from this, police can also file a closure report in the court after its investigation Court grants bail to Vikas and Ravi but not accept bail bonds Tohana Sadar police station in-charge Vinod Kumar said the bail plea of both accused farm activists Vikas Sirsar and Ravi Azad has been granted by Tohana court, but they had not been able to deposit the bail bond due to which both were in jail. He could not give more information about the case. (With inputs from Bathinda and Ambala)

The Times of India

2021-06-07

Chandigarh