Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers seek withdrawal of cases for protests in lockdown

Amritsar, July 1Members of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee on Wednesday staged a protest outside the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police (Rural), demanding that all cases registered against farmer leaders under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code for protests during the lockdown be withdrawn.Satnam Singh Pannu, the president of the committee, said the cases were registered against farmer leaders at Khalchian, Mehta, Kathunagal, Majthia and Lopoke police stations for holding village-level protests over the issue of wheat procurement for three days, starting from April 28, and later staging a protest outside the Power Corporation office in Mehta.Pannu also demanded withdrawal of cases registered against residents for violation of curfew. “By registering FIRs against farmer leaders, the government is trying to muzzle the voice of people in the name of safety requirements against Covid-19,” he said.Sarwan Singh Pandher, a farmer leader, said dozens of complaints against immigration agents for defrauding innocent youth were lying pending at the police stations. “Snatching and theft incidents are also on the rise. The police must register cases against anti-social elements instead of booking farmers who are raising their justified demands,” he said.Protest in Tarn Taran tooTarn Taran: A large number of members of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), Punjab, staged a protest infront of the District Administrative Complex (DAC) here on Wednesday to reiterate several pending demands, including cancelation of criminal cases registered against the members and leaders of the organisation. Women also took part in the protest.Addressing the protesters, Sawinder Singh Chutala, a state leader of the committee, alleged that the police and other officials had become puppets of the ruling Congress party and were working under their pressure. “Several false cases have been registered against workers of the opposite sides who pointed fingers at the government over its alleged wrongdoings,” said Chutala.He sought cancelation of cases registered against leaders of the KMSC, including Sukhwinder Singh Sabhra and other 60 workers of the KMSC by the Harike police.Leaders of the organisation said the police must focus on checking drug peddling, snatchings, encroachments and other crimes.

The Tribune

2020-07-02