Farmers Movement Archive

Farmer kills self at protest site

Ludhiana: A Samrala village farmer allegedly committed suicide at Ghulal Toll Plaza protest site on Ludhiana-Chandigarh highway on Saturday night. Police have identified the deceased as Tara Singh, 60, of Rohle village in Samrala. Avtar Singh of Gehewal village who regularly goes to Ghulal Toll Plaza said a CCTV footage showed Tara Singh at the protest site around 12.20 am, before he allegedly hung himself from a pole adjacent to a plaza cabin. He said Tara Singh’s wife has been sitting at Tikri border in protest against farm laws since the very beginning of protests against the three central farm laws. Samrala DSP Harwinder Singh Khera said the cause of the suicide could not be known immediately and they are waiting for the arrival of the deceased’s wife, who was delayed because of the bandh. He said they will initiate inquest proceedings under Section 174 of CRPC into the matter on Tuesday. Police officials said the deceased has two sons and two daughters, all of whom are married. According to local residents, one of the sons of the deceased is a driver and the other is a factory worker. Farm organisation activists said fear of losing is playing on the minds of many protesters. Gurdeep Singh of BKU Ekta Sidhupur said as Tara was a regular at the protest site, he may also have been under stress as the agitation has been going on for almost a year now.

The Times of India

2021-09-28

Chandigarh