Farmers Movement Archive

Laabh Singh, the face of Chandigarh’s farm stir, detained, released after protest

CHANDIGARH: Laabh Singh, a Nihang Sikh farm activist who is aged over 80 and has been camping near Matka Chowk here to protest against the Centre’s farm laws for nearly three months, was detained by Chandigarh Police on Monday morning, triggering a protest by hundreds of people outside the Sector 17 police station, the site of his detention. Laabh was released around 5pm, after farm groups agreed to shift the activist’s tent 100 metres away from Matka Chowk. Kisan Ekta Chandigarh (Matka Chowk) president Satnam Singh Tanda said Laabh was picked up around 11am, after police came to them to ask them to dismantle a tent they had pitched on a divider next to Matka Chowk. He said when they had gone to discuss the matter with a police official, a police team came from behind and picked up Laabh when he was alone. They also dismantled the tent. When contacted, a police official said no charges had been pressed against the senior citizen and that they wanted the tent to be removed from the divider due to security concerns. Within an hour of Laabh Singh being picked up, a team of farm groups’ representatives started talks with police officials. Tanda said they had agreed to shift the tent slightly away from Matka Chowk, but protests would continue at the spot. He added the Chandigarh Police’s action had been taken in view of activists protesting when Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar was crossing Matka Chowk on Friday. Tanda said activists of Pendu Sanghash Committee, Naujawan Kisan Ekta and other farm groups had started gathering on getting news of the protest. By 2.30pm, as the number of protesters swelled, duty magistrate for the day Pradhuman Singh, an HCS officer who is posted as Chandigarh Registering and Licensing Authority, also reached the police station. On coming out, he told TOI that they wanted the tent to be removed from the divider as it was a security concern. By 5pm, Laabh was released from the police station, eliciting celebrations outside the police station amid cries of “kisan ekta zindabad” (long live farmer unity). Tanda said people who were part of the negotiations included Rajan Bains, Jagjeet Bajwa, Amandeep Singh Mann, Gurjeet Singh Dhillon, and Gurpreet Singh Chahal. Tea, juice, samosas for all During the day, the protesters started bringing water bottles, snacks and tea outside the police station for the crowd. They could also be seen serving police personnel and journalists.

The Times of India

2021-06-22

Chandigarh