Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers lathicharged in Panchkula

Tribune News ServicePanchkula, June 5Protesting farmers were lathicharged by the police as they tried to move towards the residence of Haryana Assembly Speaker and local MLA Gian Chand Gupta here today.Block highwayProtesting farmers blocked the Zirakpur-Kalka highway for about two hours, causing inconvenience to commuters. The traffic police had to divert the traffic. Police officials held talks with them to end the blockade. However, they relented when officials of the district administration reached there.According to information, hundreds of members of the BKU led by its block president Gurjant Singh blocked the toll plaza near Chandimandir and raised slogans against the Union government. They were protesting in response to a nationwide call given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha against the controversial farm laws.From Chandimandir, the protesters started proceeding towards the residence of MLA Gian Chand Gupta in cars and tractor trolleys to burn copies of the three farm laws. Various farmers from Barwala and Raipur Rani joined them at old Panchkula.The police tried to stop them on the way but they managed to reach Suraj Theatre where cops had set up barricades. The farmers tried to cross the barricades following which the police resorted to a mild lathicharge. Some protesters were injured in the police action. Baldev Singh Surajpur, Khushdeep Singh, Taranjit Singh Manakpur, Mandeep Singh, Anmol and Sitar Mohammad were among those hurt.Talking to mediapersons, Gurjant Singh alleged that some officials of the district administration had used abusive language against them to instigate them. He claimed that some police officials were in civil dress. He said they were to hold a peaceful protest but continuous attempts were allegedly made by police officials to vitiate the atmosphere.Later, the protesters blocked the Panchkula-Shimla highway for about two hours, which caused inconvenience to commuters. The traffic police had to divert the traffic.A team of Crime Branch and detective staff, including an ACP, a DSP and the Sector 5 police station in-charge, reached the spot. In the meantime, police officials continued to hold talks with the protesters. The farmers lifted the blockade after officials of the district administration reached the site.Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohit Handa claimed that neither any order was given nor the protesting farmers were lathicharged. He said the police peacefully tried to stop the protesters from moving towards the residence of the local MLA.

The Tribune

2021-06-06