Police lathi-charge on farmers in Karnal triggers protests in Punjab

Farmers in Punjab blocked highways for two hours on Sunday in protest against the police lathicharge on their Haryana counterparts as the neighbouring state government defended the police action which a farmer leader alleged led to one deathHaryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday defended the police action against protesting farmers in Karnal saying they promised a peaceful protest but hurled stones at police and blocked highwaysHaryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala too condemned farmersrsquo violence in Karnal but promised action against a duty magistrate who was caught on camera telling police to ldquobreak farmersrsquo headsrdquo during their protestA day after the police action in Karnal a farm union leader accused police of causing death to a farmer allegedly injured in the lathicharge but Karnal Inspector General of Police Mamta Singh refuted the allegation saying that he died at homeOwing allegiance to various farmer bodies the protesters in Punjab burnt effigies of the BJPled Haryana government for using force on farmers in KarnalAround 10 people were allegedly injured on Saturday as police lathicharged a group of farmers disrupting traffic movement on a national highway while heading towards Karnal to protest against a BJP meetingThe twohourlong agitation in Punjab that started at 12 noon also inconvenienced commuters who got stuck in traffic snarls at several placesThe protest disrupted vehicular traffic at many places and affected routes along the JalandharPathankot highway LudhianaChandigarh highway AmritsarGanganagar highway and FerozepurZira roadAlso ReadTill justice is doneDefending police action against protesting farmers in Karnal amid the oppositionrsquos attack on his government Chief Minister Khattar said they promised a peaceful protest but hurled stones at police and blocked highwaysldquoIf they had to protest they should have done it peacefully no one would have any objection to that They had earlier assured that they will hold peaceful protests But if they hurl stones at police block highways the police have to take steps to maintain law and orderrdquo said KhattarAmong the opposition leaders Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu also condemned the police action in Karnal against the farmers saying it was an attack on the fundamental rights of every IndianldquoDeplorable assault on the protesting farmers is an attack on Fundamental Rights of every Indian hellip earned after innumerable sacrifices during the freedom struggle It impinges and impedes on the spirit of the Constitution and Breaks the Backbone of Indias democracy rdquo Sidhu tweetedHaryana BKU Chaduni chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni meanwhile claimed a farmer Sushil died of a heart attack after suffering injuries in the lathicharge in KarnalKarnal IGP Mamta Singh however refuted Chadunirsquos allegations saying the deceased farmer was not among the injuredThe farmer had his food at his home in the evening and went to sleep but was found dead in the morning she saidldquoThe family did not even lodge any complaint nor was any postmortem done The cremation was done by the familyrdquo she addedChaduni meanwhile said a meeting of farmer leaders will be held in Karnal on Monday to discuss the future course of action in reply to the police lathichargeBKU leader Rakesh Tikait too met some of the injured protesters in a Karnal hospital on MondayCondemning farmersrsquo violence in Karnal Chautala also promised action against a duty magistrate a 2018batch IAS officer who was caught on camera telling police to ldquobreak farmersrsquo headsrdquo during their protestldquoThe IAS officers video has gone viral Using such language by an IAS officer is condemnablerdquo said ChautalaldquoDefinitely whatever action is deemed fit the government will take itrdquo he saidThe deputy chief minister however also condemned the violence by farmers including stonepelting by them during their protest in KarnalldquoThe kind of action which was seen from the other side by protesting farmers do you support thatrdquo he asked reportersHe said he was ldquosaddened by the eventsrdquo but questioned the ultimate motive of farmer leadersldquoI am saddened by the events but I want to ask through the media where are those 40 farmer union leadershellipafter all what is their ultimate motiverdquo Dushyant asked reportersThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever